There is no denying the importance of communication in the workplace, considering the fact that, in an organization, people belonging to different social and professional backgrounds come together to work for the same goals. Effective communication amongst employees has many benefits for the company.
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.“
– George Bernard Shaw
This quote pretty much sums up the root cause of all conflicts in the workplace. Often it is seen that managers do not realize the importance of communication at work and thus do not convey their ideas, organizational goals, vision, etc. very clearly. When the seniors in the organization are unable to create an environment which promotes open and clear communication, it can have negative repercussions on the work culture and the employee productivity.
An organization where there is no sharing of information between two or more individuals, workplace issues such as high employee turnover and wastage of organizational resources, often arise. To avoid these, effective communication at work should be encouraged for the overall success of the organization.
THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN AN ORGANIZATION
Creates Job Satisfaction
Organizations which encourage an open and easy correspondence between seniors and subordinates, face lesser employee turnover. If the work environment is friendly where the subordinates are encouraged to communicate their ideas to their managers regarding work-related issues, and their feedback is given due consideration, it motivates the employees to work better and makes them feel valued in the organization. Thus, effective communication in the workplace helps in building loyalty and trust which eventually attributes to greater job satisfaction.
Lesser Conflicts
Open communication in the workplace can help prevent and resolve many conflicts. For example, if two employees have a disagreement over some issue, and instead of resolving it and arriving at a solution, they end up taking the whole thing personally. If it continues for a very long period, it may lead to work-related problems wherein they might even refuse to talk or work together in the future. Such issues can be nipped in the bud if the managers act as a mediator and let the two warring employees put across their thoughts and opinions to each other through open and clear communication. When a conflict is resolved through mutual discussions, the employees develop respect for each other, and this can lead to personal and professional growth.
Increases Productivity
Effective communication at work is the most important issue for the success and failure of an organization. Every organization has a set of clearly defined goals, objectives and vision. The manager should be able to clearly explain to his employees these goals and ensure that all his team members are working towards the same objective. He also needs to communicate to his employees their job responsibilities and duties, ways and protocol of doing work as well as the results which are expected of them. If the manager is clear in his communication, the subordinates will know exactly what the organization wants and thus, will be able to deliver the same to the best of their abilities. Thus, the importance of communication skills can be judged from the fact that it leads to better deliverance of work, increasing workplace productivity.
Better Work Future
We all know that communication is a two-way process, and being vocal and communicative leads to a better work future. All employees and managers in an organization should communicate clearly, openly and honestly. Managers should establish a congenial working relationship with their employees, so that the employees don’t hesitate to approach them for resolving any work-related issues that may arise in the organization. Thus, by establishing a good rapport with your subordinates and co-workers, you not only boost their morale but also increase their work efficiency, leading to enhanced productivity. In addition, employees too, should be given an opportunity to provide feedback to the management. This will help the management orient their policies and programs to suit the needs of their employees. Thus, building a good working relationship between employees and managers can go a long way in securing a better work future for the organization.
Formation of Relationships
Open communication, whether between the employees and managers or between the management and employees, leads to the formation of better personal and professional relationships. This makes the employees feel genuinely cared and valued for, and they are more likely to remain loyal to the company. This creates a friendly environment and promotes a better working relationship which is conducive to the employees.
Proper Utilization of Resources
If an organization faces problems, crisis and conflicts due to miscommunication between the employees, it causes unnecessary delays in the daily work. This leads to wastage of resources and lowers the overall work productivity. So an environment of good communication is a must for any organization to better utilize its resources and increase productivity.
The importance of communication in the workplace can be summed up in two words, “work satisfaction”. If the employees are satisfied working in an organization, there is no denying the fact that the future of that organization is absolutely secure. All organizations today should create an environment wherein problems, plans, issues, opinions, thoughts and ideas pertaining to work, are discussed and handled in a professional, proficient manner through positive and effective communication.