The importance of communication

However, despite its undeniable value in achieving company and personal goals, a massive 86% of executives and employees cite a lack of effective communication and collaboration as the main cause of failure.

Why is communication important in the workplace?

As a manager, good communication skills produce significant benefits for the company, helping to drive better results for individual employees, teams and the organisation as a whole. The advantages of workplace communication include improved team motivation, greater productivity and fewer misunderstandings.

In fact, research has shown productivity can increase by as much as 25% among teams who talk with each other. It also improves trust, according to a report by the Workforce Institute at UKG, which reveals 74% of employees prefer working for a trustworthy employer.

Achieving better employee engagement comes down to understanding everyone’s expectations. A major issue is the problem of team leaders failing to communicate the organisation’s business strategy and internal values with the workforce, according to Gallup data. The study found younger workers and people based in remote settings tend to feel less engaged with the company, compared with older established employees.

Every company should make sure all channels of communication are open, as there’s more chance of a disengaged employee seeking work elsewhere.

The Gallup poll suggests managers need to take a greater interest in their team’s work/life challenges.

One way of doing this is by having one-to-one, meaningful conversations with every individual about their achievements, goals and wellbeing on a regular basis. This can mean once a week, or at least once a month.

Research reveals engaged employees are 17% more productive than peers who feel disengaged and out of synch with company values.

All these factors will contribute to your own success as a leader and to the company’s development.

What are the consequences of poor communication?

Employees who continually struggle to receive clear instructions, answers and direction are more likely to disengage from their team leaders and fellow employees.

This can lead to poor productivity, low quality work, reduced job satisfaction and employee retention problems.

What are the different types of communication?

Leadership communication is when a team leader updates team members. This can be news about anything from new company policies to changes in direction. A leader must inspire, persuade and encourage commitment.

A bit more formal, upward communication is when team members and managers need to communicate with other leaders not in their direct command chain. This is normally done through emails, memos, reports or in a meeting.

Updates are brief and can be imparted through a visual tracker or dashboard, rather than verbal communication. They detail items that require action or further involvement, including triumphs and potential obstacles.

Presentations are formal events typically aimed at a larger audience. Their purpose is to inform delegates. Usually, one speaker holds the floor while others listen.

Regular meetings are a key part of an organisation’s internal communication strategy. Effective meetings will quickly relate information that may be misunderstood in another format, such as email. A good meeting should be collaborative, leaving attendees feeling energised, rather than tired.

Keeping customers informed is also an important part of any business strategy. This can be face-to-face, by video conference, spoken, written, formal or informal. These meetings are as important as employee gatherings and require precise planning.

Informal chats and brief emails will be how you largely engage with colleagues. This can include asking for information, making a request, receiving information, giving support, receiving guidance and more. With a secondary objective of building culture, they form social connections, while finding common ground and establishing trust.

All business meetings have their place in the successful running of an organisation. The key is identifying each different type and planning and running it accordingly.

How can you improve communication in the workplace?

Meeting rooms are private, quiet spaces where everyone feels happy to share ideas and information. They provide a professional and comfortable setting, away from the everyday distractions of the office. This kind of environment means you can get the most from team members and make the best impression on clients. Hiring well designed meeting rooms in London can help boost the success of your event. Having plenty of comfortable seating and desk space ensures everyone feels comfortable. This makes it easier to focus on the important business of the day.

When you need a professional meeting room, London has the best venues, whether you’re planning a client meeting, training session, interviews, board meeting or conference calls. Providing a perfect setting for collaboration, everyone will feel focused, energised and eager to move forward.