Human Resources

Team Briefing (I)

What are the methods of communication to employees? Why is the Team Briefing one of the most effective methods of communication?

Posted: Jun 2009

Communication and transparency of information is the very important aspects of the business conduct. No matter how irrelevant may looks from top perspective, it is very important from bottom perspective? Lack of communication within company can increase employee turnover.

Imagine engine operators on the ship that is cruising at the seas. They are without any information since they cannot observe the cruise route. You can say that is not their business what is the route of ship mission, what is the final destination, what is the estimated time travel, ... But still they want to know where they are heading to and what is their role on that trip. Engine operators will be motivated to they part of their job if they know what is their role in that trip.

The similar situation is with the employees of any company. No mater what is their level or sector of responsibility, they need to know basic of business course, curent issues, expectations etc. It is not up to every employee to be informed about every aspects of the business, but the basic outlines should be known. Otherwise, rumors and false information may start to circulate. Also, low moral and work engagement may appear in condition of uncertainty and lack of information.

There are several solutions for channeling the desired information to the team. That can be done through billboard advertisement, company magazine and intranet or through e-mail communication. One of the most effective methods is communication through Team Briefing.

Team Briefing is formal periodical communication of important business events and indications that are supposed to give basic understanding to the employees about performance of their company. There are several basic elements of team briefing.

• Regular basis team briefings ( weekly, monthly at specific day and time within week )
  

• Written format of team briefing agenda, topics and comments
  

• Team briefing starts with general company overview

  Team briefings are the tool for achievement of proper information flow, prevention of rumors and for motivation of employees. Since there is tendency for team briefing to loose continuity with time, it is recommended to assigned manager whose objective will be to conduct team briefings with relevant group of employees on regular basis.

  
  

  
  
  

• Update on function sector overview is following
  

• Employees have opportunity to ask the questions and to get the straight answer to any uncertainty. If the leader of team briefing is not in position to give right answer to specific question, his obligation is to forward the question to appropriate level. The answer to that question should be given to employees at next team briefing or within 48 hours through billboard posting, if the subject is urgent
  

• All discussed topics are recorded in official team briefing format

The team briefing can be held at any level or within any department. It is specially recommended to have team briefing to teams that are at the bottom of hierarchy or in case that they are dislocated from main headquarters.

Team briefings are the tool for achievement of proper information flow, prevention of rumors and for motivation of employees. Since there is tendency for team briefing to loose continuity with time, it is recommended to assigned manager whose objective will be to conduct team briefings with relevant group of employees on regular basis.