NCG, Inc Reviews: Helping Your Employees Speak Up!

NCG, Inc Reviews: Helping Your Employees Speak Up!

Between growing up, going through schooling, and previous work experience, most of us have learned that speaking your mind in the work place is not always the best idea. It can make it seem like you're working against the team or that you have trouble falling in line. But, new and fresh ideas are what help a business grow, right? The most successful organizations have open lines of communication where management, employees, and owners are all on the same page. But, how do we get that if we've lived in a society where speaking up and voicing your opinion is can be considered something to be frowned upon?

It starts with building strong enough relationships with your people, teaching them how to introduce positive ideas, and encouraging a workplace environment where it's safe to share your ideas. 

Easier said than done. Below are some tips outlined from Inc. that can help you open the lines of communication in your business and create a safe environment for your people to voice their opinions and help your company grow!

1. Empower less powerful parties to speak up -- even in high-pressure situations.

This comes from setting proper expectations with your people. Give them the knowledge of what is going on and the systems and structures that your company uses. Incorporate checklists that outline specific steps to complete tasks. If a step is missed, empower your employees to speak up regardless of their position. This will only work if you don't reprimand your people for pointing out a mistake. For example, if you're on a tight time schedule and assign one of your team members to be a  "time keeper," if time is up and you're not done, you cannot reprimand them for interrupting you and letting you know, you have to stop what you're doing and thank your time keeper for helping your keep your schedule in check. The power of positive reinforcement is key if you want to begin to open the lines of communication within your business.

2. Consider how names and titles influence feelings.

Think about the differences you feel when you're having an unnamed conversation with someone at work versus a "quarterly evaluation" or an "interview" or an "annual review." Those simple titles will change someone's mood and approach towards talking. So, if you want to have meetings or one on one talks with your employees, give them titles and use adjectives. If you just say, "We will be having a meeting," people may feel too scared to speak up. But, if you say something such as, "We will be having an informal meeting review our last quarters performance," people will feel more comfortable to put their ideas out there which will ultimately change the work environment for the better and help brainstorm ideas for increased performance in the future.

3. Showcase your needs and frailties.

Let your employees know that you have strengths and weaknesses too. It will make you more approachable. This doesn't mean that your employees should see you as "weak," but they should see you as human, humans have weaknesses. For example, if your strong suit isn't Microsoft Excel, talk to one of your people who you know is great using that system. Ask their opinions on what you're doing as well as their feedback. This will make you seem more approachable and also help your people feel more empowered because you're seeking advice from them verses them seeking it out from you.

NCG, Inc is a privately owned marketing and sales company. We specialize in client relations and brand building, so our job is to help the companies that we work with grow. We're looking for self-motivated and goal oriented candidates that we can hire into our Management Training Program and give the opportunity to learn our business from bottom to top and run an additional expansion office for us. For more information about NCG, Inc and the career opportunities available, please visit our website: www.ncgincorporated.com