Most companies have a dedicated form IT management. According to one labor force surveythe usual ratio of IT to non-technical staff is usually about 4% of all staff.

These individuals and IT departments often need to communicate with other employees across a company. From basic day-to-day activities to long-term collaborations, meeting deadlines and maintaining security, it is important that the relationship between IT and the non-technical workforce is not only existing, but effective.

If you're aware of a lack of quality in your IT-related cross-departmental collaborations, here are four ways to improve communication and build better professional relationships between technical and non-technical teams.

1. Create and promote healthy communication

COMMUNICATION it cannot be overlooked in any business environment. As the workforce becomes more geographically diverse across distance and time zones, it's important to maintain communication, not only with teams, but between departments. This is ground zero, especially in an isolated area like IT.

One way to improve communication is through regular meetings between teams. Many companies hold recurring meetings where everyone gets together to hear company-wide updates and generally regroup. If the thought of a full company meeting sounds resource-intensive, intimidating, and time-consuming, never fear. There are many ways you can apply this concept efficiently.

For example, Zappos holds its popular meetings three times a year. Taking these larger moments together helps make them special.

If dating is any amount of a problem, you can go another route: pre-recorded messages. However, if you choose this option, be warned that simple video messages can become as confusing and long as a meeting. Instead, look for tools that help you deliver purposeful, value-focused messaging.

Marketing platform Drift, for example, used the Zight communication tool to improve it internal communication. The company used screen recorder technology to send videos with knowledge-based notes to its employees. This organized and refined the purpose of each message, making it easier to refer to later without having to review everything.

Getting food? Invest in some form of healthy cross-departmental communication that fits your workflow.

Related: Effective communication is vital 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 interdepartmental communication starts at the top. IT leaders must demonstrate how to cut back on thick language when speaking, recording, typing, and otherwise engaging with colleagues.

This is not just because leading by example is effective. It's also because workplace jargon often finds its biggest fans at the top levels of a business. A study by MyPerfectResume found that 33% of respondents considered senior management to be the most likely to overuse workplace jargon.

Even worse? A third of the respondents had also used jargon they did not even understand. Use it language without jargon. It keeps communication transparent and avoids peer pressure and embarrassment from undermining effective understanding between IT and other teams.

Related: Here's why you should absolutely stop using jargon at work

3. Bridge knowledge gaps with cross-functional training

Specialization and specialized knowledge are defining factors for IT teams. The value of tech workers comes from their ability to bridge the gap between humans and machines. However, this expertise is not as effective if the communication gap between IT staff and other personnel widens too much.

One way to keep all staff on the same playing field is involvement cross-functional training. This is the process of educating employees from different departments in disciplines that are complementary to their focus. It emphasizes shared knowledge and helps teams respect and understand their respective tasks in the broader context of business operations.

Google has mastered the art of cross-departmental training. On the one hand, the company famously used its whisper courses—a series of email-style micro-lessons—to teach small lessons in teamwork. Additionally, the search engine giant encourages employee-to-employee training. This shares knowledge in a peer-to-peer manner and maintains a culture of learning.

Again, the key here is that you don't have to follow a formula for cross-departmental training. Find something that works for your setup and then invest in it.

4. Cultivate a culture of inclusion

Inclusion is a shared goal of workplace culture. It emphasizes making all members of a workforce feel welcome. It seeks to embrace gender, age and other demographic differences and incorporate the strengths of each individual and team into a company's operations.

This is a powerful way to keep IT staff and non-technical staff connected and to respect each other's contributions. As a central focus of how a company operates, an emphasis on empathy and respect helps keep these all-important communication channels open and healthy.

No company has demonstrated genuine and effective involvement in business activity so well Pixar. The media company is famous for its ability to develop high-quality ideas and, at the same time, ensure that everyone feels welcome and part of the conversation.

The company's “note days” are a poignant example. These are days when the entire company shuts down and gathers together to think collectively. The result is some of the best cross-departmental collaboration in modern history.

If you want your tech and non-tech teams to connect, make them feel involved.

Related: How to build an inclusive culture that permeates all levels of the organization

Breaking down the barriers between IT and the rest of the professional working world

The IT department has become an integral part of most modern businesses. But it cannot operate in a vacuum. Miscommunications can lead to confused expectations, missed deadlines, and even compromise safety and security.

It is essential that leaders make an effort to connect their IT and non-technical teams. This keeps everyone informed and up to date as you work together to achieve the same goal as a business.