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Most companies have some form of dedicated IT management. According to an employee survey, the ratio of IT to non-technical staff is typically around 4% of total staff.
These IT staff and departments must frequently communicate with the other employees throughout the organization. From basic day-to-day activities to long-term collaborations, meeting deadlines, and maintaining security, it is important that the relationship between IT and non-technical staff is not only present, but effective.
If you find that cross-departmental collaboration is lacking in your IT department, here are four ways to improve communication and build better professional relationships between technical and non-technical teams.
1. Establish and promote healthy communication
Communication cannot be neglected in any business environment. As the workforce becomes more geographically dispersed by distances and time zones, it is important to maintain communication, not only with teams but also between departments. This is ground zero, especially in an isolated area like IT.
One way to improve communication is to have regular cross-team meetings. Many companies hold regular meetings where everyone comes together to hear company-wide updates and general re-orientation. If the thought of a meeting with the entire company sounds like a gigantic, intimidating, and time-consuming use of resources to you, don't worry. There are several ways you can implement this concept efficiently.
Zappos, for example, holds its famous all-hands meetings three times a year. The stretching out of these larger communal moments helps make them more special.
If meetings in any quantity are a problem, you can go another route: pre-recorded messages. If you choose this option, however, be warned that simple video messages can be just as confusing and tedious as a meeting. Instead, look for tools that help you send targeted, value-driven messages.
Marketing platform Drift, for example, used the communication tool Zight to improve its internal communications. The company used screen recording technology to send narrated, knowledge-based videos to its employees. This structured and highlighted the purpose of each message, making it easier to access later without having to watch the whole thing again.
The bottom line? Invest in a form of healthy cross-departmental communication that fits your workflow.
Related: Effective communication is critical in today's diverse workforce. Here's how to make sure your message is clear.
2. Use jargon-free language
Removing jargon and technical terms from basic cross-departmental communication starts at the top. IT leaders must demonstrate how to avoid using vulgar language when speaking, recording, typing, and otherwise interacting with colleagues.
That's not just because it's effective to lead by example. It's also because workplace jargon is often most prevalent in the upper echelons of a company. A study by MyPerfectResume found that 33% of respondents felt that upper management was the most likely to use workplace jargon.
Even worse? A third of respondents had also used technical jargon that they didn't even understand. Use jargon-free language. This will keep communication transparent and avoid peer pressure and awkwardness that hinder effective understanding between IT and other teams.
Related: Why you absolutely must stop using technical jargon at work
3. Close knowledge gaps with cross-functional training
Specialization and niche knowledge are crucial factors for IT teams. The value of technicians lies in their ability to bridge the gap between humans and machines. However, this expertise is not as effective when the communication gap between IT staff and other employees becomes too large.
One way to keep everyone on the same page is to conduct cross-functional training. This involves training employees from different departments in disciplines that complement their own focus, encouraging knowledge sharing and helping teams respect and understand their respective roles in the larger context of business operations.
Google has perfected the art of cross-departmental training. On the one hand, the company uses its Whisper Courses – a series of micro-lessons delivered via email – to teach small teamwork lessons. In addition, the search engine giant encourages employee-to-employee training, which allows knowledge to be passed on on a peer-to-peer basis and fosters a culture of learning.
Again, there is no formula to follow when it comes to cross-departmental training. Find something that works for your organization and then invest in it.
4. Promote a culture of inclusivity
Inclusivity is a common goal of workplace culture, which involves making all members of a workforce feel welcome, taking gender, age, and other demographic differences into account, and incorporating the strengths of each individual and team into a company's operations.
This is an effective way to encourage connectivity between IT and non-technical staff and respect each other's contributions. As a central focus of how an organization operates, emphasizing empathy and respect helps keep these important communication channels open and healthy.
No other company has demonstrated true, effective inclusivity in its business operations quite like Pixar. The media company is famous for its ability to develop high-quality ideas while making everyone feel welcome and part of the conversation.
A poignant example is the company's “Notes Days.” On these days, the entire company closes down and comes together to develop ideas together. The result is one of the best cross-departmental collaborations in modern history.
If you want your technical and non-technical teams to connect, make them feel included.
Related: How to build an inclusive culture that permeates all levels of the organization
Breaking down barriers between IT and the rest of the professional working world
The IT department has become an integral part of most modern businesses. However, it cannot operate in a vacuum. Miscommunications can lead to false expectations, missed deadlines and even security compromises.
It's important that leaders strive to align their IT and non-technical teams so everyone stays informed and up to date as they work together to achieve the same goal as an organization.
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