Posted on August 25th, 2010
Research indicates that employees spend somewhere between 75% – 80% of their total time at work communicating in one way or another. This isn’t surprising, since communication is so crucial to everything that goes on in an organization. Communication is the “life blood” of an organization.
Without effective communication there can be little or no performance management, innovation, understanding of clients, understanding of mission, alerts to changes, coordination of effort, etc.
Research also indicates that many managers and employees do not communicate well, and do not set an organizational culture where communication within the organization is managed effectively.
Poor communication is self-sustaining, because it eliminates an important “feedback loop”. Employees are reluctant to “communicate” their concerns about communication because they do not perceive the manager as receptive. Both staff and management play out a little dance.
Effective organizational communication, regardless of form, requires three things.
1. All players must have the appropriate skills and understanding to communicate well.
2. Effective organizational communication requires a culture that supports effective communication. This involves trust, openness, reinforcement of good communication practices, and shared responsibility for making communication effective.
3. Effective communication requires attention. It doesn’t just happen, but develops as a result of an intentional effort on the part of management and staff. Too often, communication, whether it is good or bad, is taken for granted.
You play a critical role in fostering and nurturing a culture that is characterized by open communication. Without this culture, all the best laid plans, resources and skills in the organization will be wasted. We must bring communication to the forefront of our organization and give it attention. If you make the effort to improve communication, your employees will recognize that it is important. If you ignore it, so will your employees.
“True interactivity is not about clicking on icons or downloading files, it’s about encouraging communication.” Edwin Schlossberg
With Respect,
Georgine
