We all communicate, all the time, whether we realise it or not, we are constantly giving out messages and in business communication with and between employees is crucial to the success of any organisation regardless of its size and sector.
The CIPD recommends, “Clear, consistent and regular internal messaging”, and in a future blog we will look at the different methods and channels that employers might want to use in order to deliver their communication to staff.
Communication though has a major impact on any business and we’ll take a brief look at some of the key reasons why it is critical to get your communication right.
Trust, Commitment & Engagement
An article in the International Journal of Business and Management entitled, “Communication, Commitment, and Trust: Exploring the Triad”, outlines that, “trust and commitment do not just happen; they are forged and maintained through effective communication”. When you talk to your staff and communicate with them about matters which involve and affect them then you are implicitly telling them that you are committed to keeping them in the loop and engaging them in the business. Building this sort of relationship with staff through quality communication is powerful and gives staff a real sense of connection which engages them in the company and their role.
Culture
By valuing clear and consistent communication and then living and breathing that on a daily basis in interactions with employees, you as a leader are helping to create and reinforce a positive culture in your business that staff can identify with and buy into. When messages are delivered to staff in a timely manner, with consideration for the method, tone and content then you are showing staff that you are sensitive to their needs and openness and integrity are important to you. These are cornerstones of any successful relationship and by modelling this to staff you are setting the example for how you want them to behave in their communications with colleagues and clients which will help towards the company achieving its overall objectives.
Productivity
When communication is effective, employees know what is happening in a business and importantly how they fit into the business and its success, then productivity increases. Research by the McKinsey Global Institute shows that improved communication within work teams can raise productivity by 20%-25%. This increase is due to a number of factors including employees feeling more connected with each other which drives productivity through enhanced team work, innovation and collaboration. When staff are communicated with and engaged they are also likely to be happier, this happiness manifests itself generally in improved wellbeing, absence rates therefore drop and with employees in work more, then productivity again increases.
Retention
Employees are usually happier at work when communication is good and this also leads to improved job satisfaction and retention. In the current working landscape retention is a hot topic for many businesses as the war for talent intensifies and according to an article on Pumble.com Workplace communication statistics (2021) – Knowledge hub (pumble.com) employee retention increases 4.5 times in businesses which communicate effectively with their employees when compared to those that lack effective communication.
As you can see, getting communication right can lead to many positives for a business which will see it outperform its competitors, the value of effective communication with employees should therefore not be overlooked.
Do you have questions about communication?
Give us a call at CUBE HR on 01282 678321, we’ll be happy to advise you and we have policies and templates available to meet every HR need.
Why not check out our blog on a similar topic The Psychology of Communication.
We also have a YouTube channel with loads of handy videos
