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Motivation and engagement are inextricably linked to good communication in your workplace. Employees want and need to know what’s going on, but communication isn’t just a matter of sending emails and holding meetings. 

Cultivate these good habits to facilitate healthy communication throughout your organization:

• Encourage employees to speak up. Managers shouldn’t do all the talking. Ask questions, listen, and follow up with more questions. Call on people in meetings for their opinions. Solicit feedback from your workforce. The key is to listen patiently and show employees that you respect their thoughts and opinions.

• Support accountability and truthfulness. Be honest with your employees, and don't punish them for being honest with you. If you make a mistake, or can’t keep a promise, tell people up front and take responsibility. When employees see your commitment to telling the truth, they’ll follow suit and keep you fully informed of what’s going on.

• Address communication in performance reviews. Make good communication practices a performance requirement, and discuss it as part of your formal review process. Talk about what you need to know from your employees, what they want from you in terms of information, and how effectively they interact with co-workers and teams. Coach employees on good communication skills, and ask for feedback on your own.

• Emphasize your mission and strategy. When employees know what your organization is all about, they’ll be more engaged in their work and better equipped to share the information that you need. Discuss organizational goals during orientations, and refresh employees on them for as long as they stay with your organization—especially if they change over time.

—Adapted from the Monster Thinking website