Poor Communication in the Workplace; Impacts and Solutions………

                          


What is Communication?

The exchange of information, ideas, thoughts, and feelings between two or more individuals is known as communication, which involves the transmission and reception of messages through different channels, including verbal, written, and nonverbal means.

Importance of Communication in the Workplace.

Communication is very important to the success of any workplace. Effective communication among employees, managers, and customers can lead to increased productivity, improved workplace relationships, and a more positive work environment. It has more benefits and some key benefits are,

ü Improved collaboration and teamwork.

ü Increased productivity.

ü Better decision-making.

ü Enhanced customer service.

ü Reduced conflict.

According to (Adu & Agyin, 2018) communication in the workplace is crucial for building relationships, increasing productivity, creating job satisfaction, preventing conflicts, and utilizing resources effectively. It involves the exchange of information, ideas, and feedback between employees and administrators. Effective communication in the workplace is essential for achieving organizational goals and creating a positive work culture.

What is Poor Communication in the Workplace?



Poor communication in the workplace refers to any situation where information is not effectively conveyed between employees, managers, or customers. It can take many forms, such as unclear messages, incomplete information, inconsistent communication, misinterpretation, non-responsiveness, and inappropriate tone or language.

Impacts of Poor Communication in the Workplace

Poor communication can have significant negative impacts on the success of an organization. This often leads to,

Ø Decreased productivity.

When communication is unclear or incomplete, it can lead to mistakes, missed deadlines, and rework, which can reduce productivity.

Ø Increased costs.

Poor communication can result in wasted time and resources, which can increase costs for the organization.

Ø Damaged relationships.

When communication is misinterpreted or inappropriate, it can damage workplace relationships and erode trust among team members.

Ø Decreased job satisfaction.

Poor communication can lead to frustration, stress, and decreased job satisfaction for employees.

Ø Missed opportunities.

Incomplete or inconsistent communication can cause team members to miss out on important information or opportunities.

Ø Decreased customer satisfaction.

Poor communication with customers can lead to misunderstandings, errors, and dissatisfaction.

 

(SHRM, 2023) Various negative outcomes, such as damaged relationships, broken trust, misunderstandings, anger, and hostility, can result from ineffective communication. The reasons for this can range from a lack of alignment in strategy or poor execution of the strategy to using the wrong communication method, poor timing, and even small details such as word choice or tone of voice.

 

Solutions to Overcome the Negative Impacts

Solutions for each negative impact describe in the following table.

 

Negative Impact

Solution

Decreased productivity

To improve productivity, organizations should establish clear communication channels, provide training on effective communication, encourage open communication, use technology to facilitate communication, and set clear expectations and deadlines.

Increased costs

To reduce costs, organizations should establish clear communication protocols, ensure that team members are trained in effective communication, use technology to streamline communication and encourage feedback to identify areas for improvement.

Damaged relationships.

 

To repair damaged relationships, organizations should encourage open communication, provide training on effective communication, encourage feedback to address misunderstandings and create a positive work environment that fosters trust and respect.

Decreased job satisfaction.

 

To improve job satisfaction, organizations should provide training on effective communication, ensure that team members have clear communication channels, encourage open communication, and provide feedback and recognition for effective communication.

Missed opportunities.

 

To avoid missed opportunities, organizations should establish clear communication channels, ensure that team members are trained in effective communication, encourage feedback to identify missed opportunities and use technology to streamline communication.

Decreased customer satisfaction.

 

To improve customer satisfaction, organizations should ensure that team members are trained on effective communication, establish clear communication channels with customers, use technology to facilitate communication and provide feedback to address customer concerns and misunderstandings.

 

 

The research (Asamu, 2014) states that effective communication is crucial for building a genuine relationship between management and workers, while poor communication can negatively impact workers' performance. Organizations should regularly articulate their policies, goals, and objectives to workers, communicate with them to get feedback and offer suggestions, and eliminate communication barriers to improve workers' commitment and organizational productivity. Managers should also communicate directly with their subordinates on important issues.

                            

Conclusion.

Poor communication in the workplace can have severe consequences, but organizations can take proactive measures to address it effectively. By implementing clear communication guidelines, providing training, leveraging technology, and fostering an open communication culture, organizations can create a positive work environment where communication is effective, and employees can thrive.

 

References:

Adu, A and Agyin, E. (2014) Communication in the workplace: guidelines for improving effectiveness. Global Journal of Commerce & Management Perspective, 3 (5) 208-213.Available from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Akua-Adu-Oppong/publication/304782482_COMMUNICATION_IN_THE_WORKPLACE_GUIDELINES_FOR_IMPROVING_EFFECTIVENESS/links/57a8550108ae73e6e132670b/COMMUNICATION-IN-THE-WORKPLACE-GUIDELINES-FOR-IMPROVING-EFFECTIVENESS.pdf [Accessed 4 April 2023]

Asamu, F.F. (2014) The impact of communication on workers’ performance in selected organizations in largos state, nigeria. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), 19(8) 75-82. Available from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271261483_The_Impact_of_Communication_on_Workers%27_Performance_in_Selected_Organisations_in_Lagos_State_Nigeria   [Accessed 4 April 2023]

SHRM (2023) Managing Organizational Communication. [online] Alexandria: SHRM. Available from https://shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/tools-and-samples/toolkits/Pages/managingorganizationalcommunication.aspx [Accessed 4 April 2023]

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Video

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Comments

  1. Tharanga Wanigasundara9 April 2023 at 22:02

    By implementing these solutions, employers can help ensure that communication is effective and that employees feel valued and engaged in their work. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tharanga Jayasundara17 April 2023 at 20:22

    Poor communication can make you and other people feel rushed, pressured, overworked, and without a sense of humor. Lack of or incorrect communication, which is the finest personality development mentor, produces tension and worry, which are detrimental to productivity.
    A strong organization is built on effective communication. It has an impact on morale, staff retention, employee relationships, and productivity. Quickly addressing problems with inadequate internal communication can assist in reducing their consequences and undoing any unfavorable results. To eliminate poor communication in the workplace, learn how to put effective communication tactics into practice.

    Good Job !

    ReplyDelete

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