Communication+Management

Successful internal communication requires more than a finely crafted message. That message also must be delivered by the right person, using the right platform, at the right time. And all those decisions should be handled consistently across your organization. At one of my recent employers, we discovered we had a problem with several of these steps. Some situations that required specific messaging came up frequently, but they were managed differently depending on the team leader involved. That’s understandable, because each of them had a different take on what would be best in the various situations. However, this lack of consistency and standardization with our messaging led to confusion, miscommunication, and misunderstandings, which hurt morale. When I moved into the internal communications role for that division, one of my initial tasks was to create a communications protocol to clean up this mess. The first step in this process is to make a list of the different types of messages...

As a manager, you spend hours every day juggling your own projects while trying to stay on top of what your team members are doing. Some days, keeping up with everything seems impossible. With so many demands on your time, you must eliminate distractions. That starts with getting organized. Organizational systems are not one-size-fits-all. Different plans work for different people. However, as someone who has been told he is almost too organized, here are a few tips that have worked well for me. Make a task list and use it . This should include tasks you need to complete for your own projects and for your team. Update this list every morning before you get started on your day and again in the afternoon as you wrap things up. If possible, include the expected duration of tasks, as that may help you plan your day. Keep your desktops clear . This might not work for everyone, but I store important emails in clearly labeled email folders and relevant documents in a small number of folders o...