Conduct periodic brainstorming sessions!

There are many ways to generate healthy and open communication in the work place. But, I believe that holding brainstorming sessions gives you one of the biggest positive impacts of any communications-related exercise or policy.

First, for each brainstorming session, pick a specific topic. Use the SWOT analysis to identify potential topics. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Use this analysis to identify an area you feel needs more focus.

Second, schedule a specific amount of time, probably at least an hour or two. Hold the meeting offsite at a relaxed, low key, casual location. This helps get the creative vibe going and encourages the more reserved people in the group to participate.

The number one rule of brainstorming is this: Every idea is a good idea at this stage. All ideas need to be recorded in a list. It's very important that, as the manager, or leader of the group, you let your group lead the way. Don't dominate the discussion or your participants may clam up. Be the mediator, keep the conversation focused, but beyond that, just listen as much as possible.

By the end of this process you will have accomplished several positive things. You will have indirectly demonstrated that you value the opinions and ideas of every employee which encourages future healthy communication. You will have accumulated a robust starting point for solving a difficult problem or taking advantage of a potential opportunity. And, you have given your employees a chance to get away from the repetition and rigor of their daily grind to participate in strategy and ideas. All of these benefits have to do with communication, and the ideas you generate from this may lead to an innovative solution that would never have come about had it not been for your brainstorming session.

Remember to do this on a regular basis. Doing this once every month would be a good starting point. You can choose a new topic to tackle, or expand on the previous one. You might even let your employees vote on a list of potential topics to cover that you provide them.

Learn more about this author, Aden Zydo.
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