“Give ordinary people the right tools and they will design and build the most extraordinary things.”
-Neil Gershenfeld
Every successful organization must develop systems and routines that allow them to work efficiently and productively. There are systems for idea development and research, progress monitoring, strategic planning, and more.
These systems allow team members to work cooperatively and the organization as a whole to function more efficiently.
As a leader, it is your responsibility to establish and regularly evaluate your organization’s systems and procedures. One critical area to consider is organizational communication.
- How will you communicate important information with your team?
- How will team members communicate with you?
- How will team members communicate with each other?
Thankfully, when it comes to developing communication procedures, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are plenty of technological tools and programs developed with you and your organization in mind.
Here are a few types of communication technology you may want to consider:
- CRM Software:
CRM programs (Customer Relationship Software) are tools that allow businesses and nonprofits to maintain and organize customer/client data and team projects and progress.
Popular CRM programs include: Zoho, ActiveCampaign, and Keap
- Project Management Tools:
These programs make it easy to manage group projects by allowing team members to track their progress on specific tasks.
Examples include: Asana, Trello, and Monday
- File-Sharing Programs:
Every organization needs a simple and organized way to track and share company files between team members. Convenient file sharing improves team efficiency by allowing team members to easily find and access information they need to be successful.Top file-sharing programs include: Dropbox and Google Suites
- Video Meeting Platforms:
After a year like 2020, I’m sure you know the benefits of a functional, user-friendly virtual meeting platform. It allows teams to connect remotely, meaning things like distance, business travel, or, I don’t know…a global pandemic, no longer need to prevent or stall your progress. These programs allow users to choose either video or audio calls, making them flexible for a variety of situations.
Virtual meeting platform options are: Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, and GoToMeeting
- Team Messaging Programs:
For day to day communication between team members, it’s necessary to have a tool or app that keeps all communication in one unified and organized space. If you’ve ever found yourself digging through hundreds of old emails to find a piece of information you know you’ve received, you just can’t remember where…you’ll appreciate having a team messaging app.
The easy search features and organization tools in these programs decrease the amount of time that is wasted searching for your information, not to mention the frustration many experience when they cannot find the information they need.
Messaging platforms include: Slack, Google Chat, Discord, and Microsoft Teams
Now, I know what you may be wondering…
“There are so many options! How do I know which programs are the best?”
You’re right. There are many great communication technology options, and there isn’t a “one size fits all” program or platform. As you are researching and choosing which communication programs to adopt for your organization, here are a few factors to consider:
- Purpose For The Tool
What are you hoping to accomplish by adding a particular type of communication tool to your organization? Communication tools can address a variety of objectives. - Budget
Some tools are free, and others require a financial investment. Different price points within a program offer different levels of functionality/access to tools and features.The current needs and budget of your organization will help to determine which tools are the “best fit” for you.
My best tip: Decide on a budget range and stick with it.
- Team Size
How many individuals will be using the program? Some tools are designed to accommodate larger groups, while others are ideal for smaller teams. Some price by the number of individuals and others for a single organization.
It is important to note that the process of choosing your communication technology can involve some “trial and error.” That’s okay! You won’t always know what works for your organization until you give a few programs a try. Many programs offer a “free trial” with this knowledge in mind. Don’t be afraid to try out more than one tool.
If you’d like some assistance choosing communication tools that work for your organization, click here to schedule a FREE strategy call! Together we will discuss your goals and the technology options that may be best suited for your particular work.
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
