How Supervisors can Communicate More Effectively to Help Improve Job Performance

One key way to help employees improve job performance is by tailoring your communications to match their motivational triggers. Employees are motivated by either intrinsic values like goal achievement, doing a job well, or garnering recognition, or by extrinsic values based on conditions reflected by such statements as “If I don’t do my job well, I may not get a raise” or “If I don’t perform well, others will complain.” A combination of these factors often motivates employees, but a predominant style can usually b identified. Take time to learn what motivates your employees and you’ll improve your communication in ways that will increase their productivity. When communicating with employees, be sure to describe what changes you expect so that employees know what you want. Some employees need visual communication – a written note from you or a diagram, for example. Others need more discussion and verbal processing to grasp the results you want from them. And the simplest rule of all: Ask your employees what works best for them in communication. They’ll tell you.