Communication Skills at the Workplace Essay Example

and increase the likelihood of promotion to higher-paying positions. This is especially important in modern office environments where independent tasks coexist with extensive collaboration among coworkers and team members (McIntosh, 2008). In an organization, effective communication occurs when both sender and receiver agree on the meaning of transmitted information.Effective communication is essential for carrying out tasks and should be maintained with co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates (Stojkovic, 2007). To promote organizational communication, supervisors must effectively communicate work assignments, customer information, and project details to subordinates while involving them in decision-making (Barret et al., 2006). Employees should have easy access to supervisors without appointments, and supervisors should engage in individual conversations whenever possible to ensure continuous availability (McConnell, 1993).

Communication plays a significant role in our relationships with others. The way we speak and convey information influences how people perceive us as well as our ability to build effective teams. It is important to pay attention to communication, particularly face-to-face interactions, in order to understand how others receive our messages. The text emphasizes the significance of focused, thoughtful, and open-minded listening in reducing misunderstandings during communication. It suggests that a good communicator should listen carefully for main points and take notes if necessary. Judging ideas based on appearance or accent should be avoided. Additionally, observing body language and facial expressions can provide insights into how communication is being received.

Feedback is emphasized as a critical element that should be encouraged in order to enhance communication.Within an organization, a feedback mechanism facilitates timely response and guidance regarding staff issues. This fosters employee motivation and confidence in management. Etiquette and courtesy play a crucial role in promoting cooperative work and maximizing

workflow within an organization. They not only convey a positive image of the organization but also improve customer satisfaction.Effective communication is another important factor that enhances teamwork and overall performance. Various levels of poor communication skills can exist within an organization. These include distrust between team members or between the project leader and team members, lack of communication between the project team and top management, as well as poor communication between project leaders and clients (Roberts, 1984). Obstacles such as employee distrust in managers, excessive criticism or manipulation leading to employee distrust in managers (Guaffey, 2009), can contribute to ineffective communication.Furthermore, downsizing, the presence of temporary workers, increased discrimination and harassment cases, along with excessively high compensation packages for executives have all played a part in eroding employees' trust and pride in their employers.The horizontal flow of information within the organization may also be hindered by employees' ego, prejudice,
reluctance to share information due to fears of jeopardizing their status or chances of promotion.
Furthermore, competition and an unequal reward system can discourage workers from sharing information. In addition, ineffective communication in an organization can be attributed to a fear of criticism for independent thinking, a lack of communication skills, and differing points of reference (Guffey, 2009).

To enhance the flow of information within the organization, several strategies can be implemented. These include engaging communication coaches for employee training, promoting regular meetings with staff members, and creating a nonthreatening environment that encourages open sharing of ideas and observations with management. Additionally, incentive programs can be introduced to motivate employees to gather and share feedback on various issues while receiving training in teamwork and communication techniques.

The consequences of poor

communication within the workplace are significant. It affects employees in multiple ways as a highly communicative and collaborative working environment boosts productivity, creativity, and inspiration (Muema, 2012). Conversely, when there is a lack of communication skills among employees, they become less motivated about their responsibilities leading to reduced output.Furthermore, if managers fail to effectively communicate at work, employees may experience demoralization due to unclear project instructions delivered through dull presentations. This can result in confusion and monotony (Muema 2012). Ineffective communication also negatively impacts important projects within an organization, hindering innovation and the ability to make positive contributions to customers and society as a whole (Muema, 2012).

The effective communication of new ideas is closely linked to employee innovation, leading to improvements. Conversely, poor communication creates misunderstandings and hostility among employees, creating an unpleasant working environment. To prevent issues caused by poor communication such as distrust, high absenteeism rates, stress-related claims, and interpersonal conflicts; organizations should adopt relevant communication techniques that promote problem-solving and discourage blame games. These techniques ultimately improve teamwork and performance.

For example, a large federal agency faced similar challenges but significantly improved staff morale and productivity after implementing a two-day retreat focused on open and honest communication. Additionally, thanks to the adoption of effective communication techniques, the agency received high ratings in client satisfaction surveys alongside this success story.Additionally, a study discovered that companies with highly efficient internal communication experienced a 57 percent increase in shareholder returns compared to those with ineffective employee communication within a five-year period. It is crucial for organizations to prioritize sales staff who possess strong communication skills as this contributes to an increase in sales volume. These skills

encompass actively listening to customers, offering information and assistance for problem-solving, and establishing rapport. Managers must adopt effective communication techniques that effectively convey specific messages to employees by establishing efficient modes of communication that keep employees informed about any changes in the organization's structure and design (Schuttler et al., 2009). Leaders should understand their workforce's unique needs and employ suitable communication methods to address them. Successful communication requires learning, practice, and consistent application. Organizations can enhance performance by seeking guidance from other departments within the company known for effectively communicating with employees, customers, clients, and stakeholders. To reduce uncertainty and maintain a sense of normalcy among employees, supervisors should openly communicate changes in initiatives with the workforce. Regular communication between supervisors and employees plays a vital role in creating a high-performance environment (Schuttler et al., 2009).Effective communication between supervisors and employees is crucial for mutual learning, gaining insights about each other, understanding the organization's strategy, and aligning individual strategies and goals with those of the organization. It also helps create an environment that promotes growth and development, improves employee performance, benefits the organization financially, and makes employees feel valued. Ongoing communication is especially important during times of change to retain knowledgeable employees and prevent distractions and a loss of focus among employees. Both organizational and individual goals depend on effective communication and open dialogue. To achieve excellence in performance, supervisors must dedicate time to communicate strategic, technological, structural, and human resource changes to their subordinates. (Roberts, 1984)