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Sometimes, business is like driving down an open road. When things go right, the entire team smoothly navigates from Point A to Point B, delivering everything on schedule.
Other times, the corporate world throws up roadblocks. Emergency fixes, urgent projects, and impromptu meetings can derail even the best-laid plans. Worst, when communications break down, it can be challenging to get back on track.
Technology is one of the most frustrating communication roadblocks and the most avoidable. Interruptions in business communications technology and the sheer volume of messages can wreak serious havoc on productivity, especially with an increasingly distributed workforce.
Fortunately, today’s unified communications and collaboration (UCC) tools have the functionality and reliability to help teams overcome even the most frustrating corporate communications roadblocks. Here are some of the most common workplace challenges – plus how the proper unified communications and collaboration strategy can keep your team headed in the right direction.
Corporate Roadblock #1: Communications Overload
The modern, hyper-connected work environment means communications overload is common for many employees. Constant alerts, reminders, and “urgent” notifications can be overwhelming, not to mention the constant need to remain available on multiple modes of communication.
Consider this: Forty percent of workers spend at least 21 hours a week using digital communication tools, according to The State of Workplace Communication in 2024. With so much time and energy spent managing communications channels, employees might not have much left to focus on their work.
Detour: Make a Plan of Action
Just like taking the time to map out a route makes road trips faster and easier, setting a plan of action keeps everyone on the right course. If the entire team is on the same page (and the same collaboration platform) from the beginning, they can spend more time on their tasks and less time monitoring their notifications.
One way to do this is by introducing a structure for productivity into the workday:
1. Start the day with a realistic breakdown of individual responsibilities, identifying top priorities and the time they will take. This lets each team member set their priorities and dive into their work.
2. Set time blocks in a shared calendar. If specific tasks require focus time and others require collaboration, make sure everyone’s calendars reflect that.
3. Get everyone on the same communications page. Ensure the entire team uses (and checks!) the same communications channel. This is especially important for distributed teams with employees in different time zones or locations.
4. Respect the status setting. The constant need to be “on” is a fast track to burnout. Although digital communication makes it easy to send notifications or request updates at any time of day, check your colleagues’ “available,” “busy,” or “away” status before checking in.
Instituting even one of these tips allows employees to spend less time trying to communicate and more time on their work.
Corporate Roadblock #2: Time Wasted Trying to Connect
In a dynamic business environment, reaching the right person at the right time is critical for keeping projects ahead. But struggling to identify or get the correct contact leads to more than delays—it can lead to breakdowns in communication that ultimately erode trust.
The workplace communication survey found that 54% of remote workers report that poor communication negatively impacts their trust in leadership, and 52% say it affects trust within their team. For remote and hybrid teams, unclear communication channels can hinder projects and negatively impact the employee experience.
Detour: Leverage Smart UCC Tools and Integrations
To overcome this roadblock, you should establish a seamless, centralized system that ensures everyone can connect with the right person when and how they need to.
A unified platform with click-to-call, direct messaging, and video conferencing takes the guesswork out of communicating. The right UCC solution will also integrate with your vital business applications, including databases and contact lists, ensuring that information is always reliable and up-to-date.
Corporate Roadblock #3: Poor Connection Outside the Office
For remote employees, the imperative to stay connected with their teams adds stressor to the workday. According to the workplace communication survey, nearly one-quarter of remote workers report feeling pressured to stay connected with their peers, and another 35% say they often feel the same way.
This can be especially acute in hybrid teams, where remote and on-site employees have different access levels to each other. Disparate communication experiences can lead to additional stress, burnout, and isolation for remote employees.
Detour: Multichannel Mobility Strategy
A multi-channel UCC platform can support all workers by providing a seamless communication experience regardless of physical location. Whether employees are at their desks, on their phones, or using their laptops, the right UCC solution keeps the communication tools at their fingertips with softphone capabilities and powerful mobile clients.
This means employees won’t feel left out when they’re out of the office and won’t have to adjust their approach to work whenever they switch locations. They can work how they want, where they want. The result: more engaged, more collaborative teams.
Corporate Roadblock #4: Too Many Apps
Email, messaging, video conferencing, project management, contact lists—there’s an “app for that.” When every method of communication has its app, that can be more counterproductive than helpful; constantly switching between modes of communication can lead to app overload.
This issue is especially prevalent with remote workers, 69% of whom report feeling burned out from digital communication in the workplace communication survey. Even hybrid (56%) and on-site (49%) employees feel stressed. When employees spend more time digging through their notifications to find the right message than they do collaborating, productivity suffers.
Detour: A (Truly) Unified Communications and Collaboration Platform
No more ad hoc solutions – teams should be united on a single, multifunctional, unified communications and collaboration platform. A modern UCC solution consolidates messaging, calling, video conferencing, scheduling, and file sharing in one convenient place.
Employees can easily access everything and everyone they need from a single, integrated platform, reducing the need to switch between multiple apps. This streamlined approach improves workflow and creates a more connected, efficient workplace where digital communication supports productivity rather than hinders it.
Smooth Communications Ahead
A productive workplace relies on minimizing roadblocks and enabling seamless communication, no matter where or how employees work. With a strong, unified communications and collaboration strategy, businesses can streamline communication, reduce burnout, and create a connected, efficient workplace where remote, on-site, and hybrid teams can thrive.
As the leading UCC provider, Mitel has the right solutions to keep your workplace on track. Contact us to learn more about how UCC can improve business communications in your organization.
