It is no surprise that successful organisations invest in teaching effective communication. Investing in in-house training and team building activities play a fundamental role in an organisation’s growth and success. Excellent communication can go beyond conversation, whether it is face-to-face conversation or via digital platforms, such as communicating in email or through social media.
Organisations that practise open communication in the workplace will gain trust among employees, resulting in great productivity, performance, and overall morale. At the same time, employees who communicate effectively with their colleagues, managers, and customers will continually be valuable assets to an organisation. Here are five main reasons why effective communication should be implemented in your organisation:
1. It reduces employee turnover
When employees are satisfied in the workplace, they have the initiative to ensure the success of the business, and the motivation to stay and grow in their positions to climb up the ladder. No organisation benefits from having a high turnover rate. Besides the direct impact it has on costs, higher turnover rates also impact a company’s image.
2. It boosts innovation and creativity
When employees are comfortable expressing themselves, teamwork and creativity within the department or organisation is improved. For instance, employees will be able to convey their thoughts on how to improve a business process or a pitch for a client. From there, superiors who understand the value of soliciting and listening to feedback will be able to pick up those ideas and implement them, if applicable.
3. It reduces unhealthy competition that can create toxic environments
While a healthy amount of competition might help boost employee’s performance, too much of it could negatively impact productivity and performance. For instance, if there is an unhealthy competition between two departments or employees, rather than ignoring the problem or letting it evolve further, a workplace should encourage them to communicate, with the aim of resolving their disputes. This could help improve their relationships and make it easier for them to work together in the future. Learning and adjusting to different communication styles also enhances positive business relationships.
4. It helps unite diverse groups
These days, workplaces are comprised of a diverse group of people, who belong to different social classes, ethnicities, and genders. Diverse groups have diverse habits, and so communication between these groups can sometimes be a problem. If a workplace promotes effective communication between members of different ethnic groups and takes steps to bridge any gaps of communication between them, this will eventually help create mutual understanding, respect, and even friendships among employees.
5. It supports change in the organisation
In order for organisations to offer customers great service and be sustainable, they must be open to change. By having effective communication in this process, they can clearly inform their customers of these changes and inform the teams, who will be able to implement them efficiently with their colleagues and superiors, at every level.