By Team Antoni Explains
Transparency is one of the most crucial aspects of communication in the workplace, especially in an era of the interconnectivity revolution. If you foster a culture of open and transparent communication, it enhances trust and improves employee engagement and relationships. But what does transparency actually look like in practice? And how you can ensure that you are fostering an environment where open and transparent communication thrives.
In this blog post, we will explore the effectiveness of transparency in communication at the workplace and best practices for business leaders to foster a positive and transparent culture at the workplace.
How Transparency Impacts Workplace
Transparency in communication is not limited to only information sharing and exchange. Employees feel better in terms of trust and inclusivity.
Employees who trust their leadership are more than 12 times more likely to be engaged and motivated workers at the workplace.
American Psychological Association
In addition to the above, as per a survey by Gallup, companies with greater transparency practices experience 17% higher productivity and increased profitability than those companies with less open and transparent communication.
There is a strong relationship between trust and transparency. When leaders are transparent, they foster a culture where employees feel inclusive, heard, and valued. Consequently, they enjoy the engaged and motivated workplace environment.
Best Practices to Foster Transparency
Here are some actionable strategies to foster a transparent workplace environment.
1. Lead By Example
Transparency moves from top to bottom. As a leader, you establish the tone of how communication occurs in your company. You need to be very open about company goals, targets, and decisions. You need to regularly share the updates with team members whether through newsletters, meetings, or, town halls. Being consistent in communication with your team manifests that you value transparency and openness in your organization. techNgraphic, a social media management company known for radical transparency and openness. They share everything with their employees even salaries, company revenue, and profits with their employees. Consequently, they enjoy high levels of transparency and mutual trust in their organization.
Want to learn more about fostering transparency and trust? Antoni’s Book Employee Engagement Through Outstanding Workplace Communication Provides you with expert and actionable strategies to improve your communication at the workplace.
2. Be Open About Your Challenges
Being a leader, you don’t share only good news. Transparency means being honest about challenges that you are facing. When leaders are open to discussing the negative news and challenges, they foster a culture where decision-making mindsets are grown. This approach will provide confidence to your employees to share their challenges and find an optimum solution.
“Leaders who openly discuss challenges with their teams are perceived as more trustworthy and authentic.“
Forbes
Engage Your Team in Decision-Making Process
Involving your team in the decision-making process brings wonderful results for your business. Definitely, this is not about giving them complete control or inviting them for brainstorming sessions. Consequently, your team will feel valued.
Southeast Airlines leaders launch different campaigns to boost the trust among employees. They arrange “Ask Me Anything” aka “AMA” with their employees and encourage them to ask questions and provide valuable ideas. Consequently, the company achieved a high level of employee satisfaction and retention.
Conclusion
Transparency is of pivotal importance for any organization for long-term success. By fostering an open communication culture at the workplace, you encourage your employees to do their best. For more expert guidance on Building a culture of transparency and engagement, don’t miss Antoni Lacinai’s book Employee Engagement Through Outstanding Workplace Communication.
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Workplace Transparency Diagnostic Tool
To help business leaders assess the level of transparency in their organizations, this custom-developed Workplace Transparency Diagnostic Tool you can easily use. It allows you to calculate transparency scores for your organization by interpreting the data you provide.
