Blog
Why it’s good to talk
No matter the size of your organisation, communicating clearly is essential – a skill that can still prove difficult, even with the array of methods and software designed to aid communication. If you want to stay on the same page as those who work alongside you, it’s important that you find time to talk. Taking half an hour to close your laptop and talk with a colleague could wind up making a huge difference for the future of your business.
Talking helps create belief in your purpose
One of the key benefits of clear conversation is unifying your entire team behind your company’s driving force or purpose. At The House, we believe that purpose beyond profit is what drives a business to great things; if you believe this as a business leader, that’s a great start. However, your belief may not be shared or even understood within your business as a whole, so it’s vital to give your team a reason to get behind it. A bold banner on your organisation’s website or a section in your code of conduct describing your values may be a good start, but if you want to keep your purpose alive and evolving, you need to create oppurtunities for your team to talk about the company’s purpose in their own words.
Conversation creates business ambassadors
A well-communicated, well-understood purpose turns employees into ambassadors. Involving your team in the conversation around your purpose - where it’s going, how it’s carried out – allows them to continue this conversation and spread the message, whether that’s at work or at the pub.
Employees will be better equipped to help clients glean an understanding of what your company does and, just as importantly, why you do it. By allowing for genuine two-way conversational purpose, your entire organisation can become a part of the purpose and help it grow.
Talking fosters great relationships
No matter how busy you may be, there is no real substitute for face-to-face conversation: the flurry of information we receive every day only makes this more important. By creating time away from our devices and dedicating time to discuss ideas, get feedback and talk about what’s on your mind, you and everyone else in your organisation will not only develop a better, clearer business relationship but a happier and more trusting relationship overall.
Making time to talk can give everyone in your company a big lift. It needn’t be a conventional scheduled meeting either; there are plenty of opportunities, such as meals out, off-site talks or whatever else suits your timetable. Canadian firm Freshbooks send their employees on 'blind dates' in which two random members of staff are sent out together with the aim of getting to know each other better by the end of their ‘date’. At The House, we host a weekly ‘Food For Thought’ where the whole agency gets together to eat and talk about what inspires us, leaving the session energised and with a greater understanding of the whole team’s thought process.
Whatever your organisation’s goals, having a clearly communicated purpose backed by employees and clients is vital – both on a human and on a business level. If you want to bring your purpose to life, it’s good to talk.