Whether you are running a small
start-up business or a worldwide enterprise, fostering effective
communication is critical to success. No company can succeed long-term
if its workers do not communicate with one another, and this lack of
communication will quickly become evident in the form of missed
appointments, disjointed meetings and wasted time. Fortunately,
companies have a number of technological tools at their disposal to
create an arena where open and honest communication is valued and
respected.
Sharepoint and Intranet Sites
Setting
up an intranet site is one of the best ways for small businesses to
keep all their workers in the loop and communicate new information.
Setting up a "what's new" section on the website is the perfect way to
brag about new business wins, post job opportunities and gather the
input of employees through periodic surveys. Companies can also use
Microsoft Sharepoint services to set up internal websites designed for
specific projects. Project managers can use these specialized websites
to share documents and information, and this can help the project run
more smoothly and effectively.
Instant Messaging
Instant
messaging can be a valuable tool for business use, and in many ways it
is far superior to email. With an instant messaging program, supervisors
and managers can see which workers are signed in and at their desks,
which ones are in meetings and which ones are out of the office.
Employees can often get much-needed answers more quickly using an IM
system than by phone or email. Just knowing who is available can save
valuable time and help small business owners find the right resources
when they need them. Microsoft Office Communicator is one of the most
widely used instant messaging programs, but many small businesses use
Web-based instant messaging programs from Yahoo, Google and other
sources.
Email
Email
is one of the most widely used forms of technological business
communication. While companies may use many different and newer forms of
communication, email is still one of the most effective communication
methods available when it is used properly. It is a good idea for small
firms to use email sparingly in order to foster one-on-one communication
and cooperation, but email can still be valuable, especially when the
small business has multiple offices in multiple areas.
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