Whether you're trying to build rapport, resolve a conflict, or simply exchange information, being able to communicate effectively is essential to maintaining a healthy work environment. Or to put it simply: communication is the key to every relationship, including the ones you have with your coworkers.
So working on your communication skills is always a good idea, but it’s not easy to improve something if you don’t know what’s holding you back. You might think that communication in your organization is just fine. You have your email chains, slack channels, and maybe even a casual WhatsApp group where you share memes and such.
But what if I told you that not all your bases are covered?
Traditional Means of Communication and their Drawbacks
Communication methods such as email, phone, messaging, and in-person meetings, are appropriate for different purposes. But each of them also has its own set of limitations:
Email is by far the most formal way to communicate with colleagues which is both a benefit and drawback. Sure, it's perfect if you are sharing official information or something that requires a paper trail, but would you use email to tell your colleagues about the great course you just signed up for? Or to ask for advice on how to deal with a difficult customer? Not likely.
Messaging apps like WhatsApp or Slack are great for quick updates and casual conversation, especially if you need an immediate response. But what about sharing some tips or pieces of advice that you think would be beneficial for your team? It'll probably get lost in the constant stream of messages never to be seen again.
Phone calls and online meetings are the most efficient way to share information, but they can also be the most draining. If it's an urgent matter that needs to be discussed or a complex issue that requires back-and-forth discussion, then a phone call or meeting is the way to go. However, if it is something that can easily be explained in writing, then it might be better to save everyone time and trouble.
Efficient Communication in the Workplace
Efficient communication in the workplace has been the goal of businesses ever since the office was invented, and all those channels mentioned earlier (and many more) have been added gradually in order to make up for the shortcomings of the previous one.
None really got it right, but back in the day, face-to-face communication could fill the gaps and get the job done. You would walk to a colleague's desk to ask a question or deliver a message and, in return, get all the information you needed.
The problem with this system is that it doesn't scale very well. As the size of an organization grows, so does the number of people working in it, which quickly makes walking around the office to deliver messages impractical, to say the least.
Larger organizations also tend to have an issue with so-called communication silos, where different departments or teams have difficulty exchanging information with each other. This is often due to the fact that they are using different systems and tools, which makes it hard to find the right information or even know who to ask.
Nowadays, with the rise of the hybrid workplace, the need for an internal communication tool that would allow for quick, easy, and informal exchanges between coworkers, regardless of location, has become more pressing than ever.
This is where Lorino comes in.
What is Lorino?
Lorino is a lightweight and simple solution that not only makes information sharing easier but also fosters a more cohesive work environment and helps build better relationships between colleagues.
Lorino is the internal communication tool your workplace needs in order to improve collaboration and make everyone's lives a little bit easier. We like to describe it as a cross between a notice board and an internal social media platform, geared toward productivity.
Simply put: It's a place where you can share all those information that have no other home. Be it that you just received a certificate for that course you attended, you found a conference you think your team might benefit from, or you finally found a solution for the printer that has been giving everyone headaches for months.
How Lorino helps Improve Communication in the Workplace
Where most communication channels fall short, Lorino excels.
Lorino is designed to make it easy for colleagues to find the information they need when it suits them. It's also great for those moments when you need to share something with your team but a quick chat message or email just won't do.
Lorino helps improve communication in the workplace by:
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Making it easy to find the right information: Information is shared in the form of posts, which are assigned to topics and can be tagged. The search function allows you to quickly find what you're looking for, whether it's a specific piece of information or just anything that's been shared recently, by simply typing in either the topic, the right tag or even the name of the person who shared the information.
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Allowing you to share information in a variety of ways: Lorino gives you the option to share text, images, gifs, and links, so you can share information in the way that makes the most sense.
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Encouraging informal exchanges: Similar to a social network, Lorino offers you the possibility to interact with your colleague's posts in a variety of ways (comments, reactions, follows...). For teams that aren't based in the same office, this can be a great way to foster cohesion and build better relationships.
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Making it easy to stay up-to-date: All important company news is being shared in one tab, so if you're just back from a vacation or working from home, you can quickly catch up on what's been going on - just head over to the "Announcements" section and have a look.
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Giving the advantage of asynchronous communication: This means that you don't have to be online at the same time as your colleagues in order to exchange information. This is great news for remote teams or colleagues in different time zones who might not be available for a phone call or video chat during work hours.
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Providing a place where everyone can share their accomplishments: No one likes to brag, but by having a place where everyone is encouraged to share their successes, you can create a more positive and supportive work environment.
In short, having Lorino in your company is like having an online notice board, a newsletter, and a self-populating knowledge base wrapped up in a simple and easy-to-use package. It helps build cohesion and makes sure that everyone is on the same page, which saves time and prevents misunderstandings.
If you're looking for a way to improve communication in your workplace, we highly recommend giving Lorino a try. If you want to know more you can either book a free demo, or try it out in our open workspace.
We also offer a free trial and signing up takes less than a minute. Why not give it a shot today and see for yourself how Lorino can help your team work better together?
