8 Reasons Why Communication In The Workplace Is Important

Communication in the workplace is important if you are looking for employee engagement and productivity. It has been proven that where organizations or their leaders have failed there is always proof of gross miscommunication.

• What is effective communication?
• Why focus on communication?
• What types of communication do you get?
• What are communication channels?
• 8 Reasons Why Communication In The Workplace Is Important
• Barriers to effective communication
• Communication in the workplace - Conclusion

What is effective communication?

There are many ways in which effective communication can be explained but it comes down to one simple thing. That is the ability to effectively communicate an idea or concept to others so that it is understood without misconception.

Why focus on communication

We all know that perception is the mother of all *******. Unfortunately more and more inexperienced leaders prefer to act on perception rather than focusing on the real issues.

Communication in their workplace is used to share ideas and transfer important information from one channel to another.

We all know that by now communication is the act of talking and listening while absorbing information. It is very easy for communication to fall apart if one of the two acts is absent from the conversation.

Good leadership and the success of an organization depend on how effective communication channels are used. Both the leadership and their employees must be encouraged to participate in the act of effective communication. 

Without functional communication taking place in the organization you will experience a lot of problems. That is why it is important to know and understand the types and channels of communication.

What types of communication do you get?

When we talk about communication there is already a lot of confusion about the different terms used. Many people get mixed up with types, channels, elements, factors, and other terms used to describe communication.

When we talk about types of communication we are talking about the active form of action it takes on.

There are only 2 types of communication used as means to communicate with each other.

• Verbal
• Non-Verbal

Verbal

Verbal communication is the most common method used by individuals to share information. It also comes into play with group discussions or conditions where one message needs to be shared at once to many.

Due to different physical barriers that can affect verbal communication non-verbal methods can be used to enhance the transfer of information.

Non-Verbal

Many teachers will come up with 4 to 10 types of communication but at the end of the day if it is not verbal it is non-verbal. That is why all other types of communication will fall into this class of which the most common are:

• Visual
• Audio
• Written
• Sign language

These are all methods that can be used by themselves or as means to enhance verbal communication. What type or combination is used will depend on many other factors which you can only determine when the communication is needed.

What are communication channels?

On the other hand, there are many channels of communication and because of this people like to start classifying it as a type on its own.

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The description of a communication channel is not the how but the means used to communicate. In other words, what do you use in order to get your message across?

We live in a world of technology that provides us with hundreds of options we did not have before. Although there are more options it does not mean it makes communication better. The quality of communication will always depend on the user.

The most common communication channels we use in business today are:

• Two-way discussions
• Planned meetings
• Social Media
• Conference calls
• Text messages
• E-Mails
• Phone calls
• Video
• Notice Boards
• Collaboration software
• Written text

Each of these can be a useful communication tool if used correctly and under the correct circumstances. The best tools in the world are worthless if not applied correctly. When it comes to communication in the workplace, it is no different.

8 Reasons why good communication in the workplace is important

Not only will good communication in the organization provide better outcomes but it will also encourage employees to participate in growing the business.

The following are positive benefits of a good communication system in an organization:

• Employee value - By participating in communication and giving input in day-to-day operations they will not feel like just a number. 
• The more they participate in what is happening in the organization the more valuable they will feel in the long run. 
• Leadership visibility - Leaders must be at the forefront of this communication channel and not hide behind closed doors with their own opinions. The organization cannot run on perception and presumption that is why leaders must step Up and initiate the communication channel. 
• Open communication - Hiding information from employees and not sharing crucial elements of the business will leave you in the dark. The sharing of some essential information will not only make you a better leader but will also make you approachable to employees. 
• Innovation - It was found that companies with open communication channels have more success when it comes to innovation. Innovation is something your organization needs to grow and constantly keep its position in the marketplace. Open communication courage employees to give their input which can be assessed by the leader for implementation. 
• Work environment - Good communication in an organization provides the employee with a healthy and good work environment. No one must be scared to say or do something that might upset the leadership as they have as much right to input as any other person in the organization.
• Efficiency - Where good communication is in place you will find that teams are more efficient as they understand the goals and vision of the organization much better. They would be more effective as a team rather than a group of fractured individuals. 
• Productivity - A noticeable change in productivity levels will be observed if your communication is clear, consistent, and trustworthy. This is because they are working as a team and they have a clear understanding of their goals and targets. 
• Employee relationships - Healthy communication in the workplace also ensure that employees get along better with each other which results in great teamwork. Avoiding a toxic workplace is part of the leader's role and there is nothing better to avoid this than good communication. 

Barriers to effective communication

There is a clear benefit for communication in the workplace to be on point and effective but there are many factors that can affect the outcome. Being aware of these barriers will make it easier for you as a leader to plan your communication better.

The 5 most common barriers that will prevent effective communication are:

• Culture
• Language
• Education
• Perception
• Emotion

Culture

Unfortunately in today's times so many businesses are trying to be overly politically correct. It is all well to do so but not all have the ability to lead or manage a workplace where different cultures need to function as a team.

Leaders must understand the different cultures and make sure that communication aligns with cultural expectations. Even though the only culture that counts is the organizational culture you still have to take into consideration how others will translate the information.

Language

Most businesses in the Western World have English as their corporate business language. The problem is that individuals speaking different languages does not all relate to English in the same manner.

The understanding that someone speaking Greek has can be totally different from how a German person understands the translation.

Education

It is common that in leadership the perception is that information devised by management should be understood by all employees. This however is not always true as not everybody has the same level of education.

Terms used during communication can have a totally different meaning for an unskilled worker. Keeping communication simple so all employees can relate to what is being conveyed is the only answer.

Perception

Probably the biggest cause of miscommunication is perception. More people today are subject to self-praise and fake egos which can alter their perception of reality.

Leaders who are not willing to accept two-way communication but instead act on perception will experience a hard time communicating with their employees.

Communication in the workplace - Conclusion

For effective communication to take place in the workplace leadership must ensure that the correct resources are in place. Not only that they must also make sure that every worker on every level must know how to use the available communication channels.

Communication is proven to be a two-way activity that involves speaking and listening. By listening, leaders will learn how their employees react to communication and over time develop a solid understanding of employee needs.