When a business moves into high growth, there are several new problems that often manifest themselves. Most of these issues are related to disruptions in communication as new positions are formed and old positions are closed. In order to overcome these issues, here are three tips that will help you improve the communication processes in your company during times of high growth:
Clear Hierarchy
The first thing that must be established is a well defined chain of command. Everyone must know exactly what the official hierarchical structure of the firm is to facilitate an easy communication flow. Once ranks are established, everyone’s sphere of influence needs to be clearly explained, so that no one will try to avoid having to take responsibility for issues that clearly need attention.
However, encouraging communication and delineating various zones of influence is only part of the solution. It is also necessary for the various leadership levels to communicate quickly and efficiently. One of the best ways to do this is by using project management software like Teamworks, Slack or Basecamp. It’s also important to realise that with this type of software, the various levels in your hierarchy can see what each other is doing. With this type of transparency, many questions that one person may have can be answered instantly without have to actually contact someone higher in the pecking order.
Focus on Results and Not Politeness
During periods of growth, things can get rather chaotic. That’s why all business endeavors should focus on producing results. If feelings get hurt, that’s too bad because there are larger issues at stake. Often, there are many changes that occur during rapid expansion, and there may have to be several adjustments in order to handle these issues more effectively. These adjustments will often ruffle feathers and damage egos, and this is merely another aspect of having to deal with problems that are directly related to a company’s growth.
Continually Communicate With Each Manager and Offer Incentives
You should constantly maintain a conversation with each manager and keep reminding them of the company’s goals and how these goals are relevant to the daily tasks that face each one of them.
Depending on the size of the organisation, you will probably not have the time to speak to every employee, but this is not as necessary because the communication between you and your managers is now of utmost importance. If you were micromanaging in the past, you will not be able to continue doing this if your company continues to keep growing. Because of this reality, delegation is of utmost importance. You also need to have the right individuals in place to serve as managers. If these issues are not resolved, you could have serious complications develop rather quickly. One of the biggest secrets to delegating responsibility is that you use it as a tool to identify the greatest strengths of each manager. If they fail or succeed in any given area, you will know more about where they will perform the best.
Incentives should also be offered to your top performing managers, like cash bonuses or extra holiday time. These types of perks are often effective motivational tools that will inspire your managers to open more lines of communication with their subordinates. These bonuses will also help you to secure their loyalty, which is more vital than ever during these times of extreme growth.
