Effective communication within the organization

Ana-Maria Dobre
Instructional Design Specialist & Trainer @ Azimut & updateED

MANAGEMENT

Each of us has been put in a situation where, after a meeting at work or after a discussion with the manager, the targets imposed and the methods by which they must be achieved are not totally clear.

According to statistics, 57% of employees are not convinced whether they correctly understood what they have to do, while 69% of managers consider that it is difficult for them to communicate with employees.

Communication within teams and among management levels is one of the main factors that determines the proper functioning of the organization and the achievement of the proposed objectives.

Why is communication so important in the workplace?

Effective communication leads to the creation and understanding of a goal, a positive organizational culture, while eliminating confusing situations.

Benefits of effective communication:

Good communication alleviates conflict - An understanding of tasks and a correct delivery of the message alleviates the state of confusion and thus the possibility of conflict between sender and receiver, because the tasks are performed successfully and completely when you know exactly what to do.
Effective communication improves employee involvement - Effective communication among management levels clarifies the needs of employees when it comes to understanding the tasks, objectives and goals themselves. This leads to an openness of the receiver because there is no confusion around the imposed targets and what has to be done.
Efficient communication at organizational level leads to a good organization-client relationship - By understanding the mission, vision, values and goals of the organization at individual and employee level, the information can be clearly conveyed externally to customers. Effective communication with the client leads to understanding their needs and finding solutions to solve those needs.

But still, what are the ways in which communication can be improved?

Information provided concisely, clearly and completely - The message must be clear, short and without unnecessary details that can lead to confusion, but at the same time, it must contain enough information to be easily understood. Employees must understand exactly what they have to do, without trying to decipher the information conveyed by the manager or teammates.
Specific and sufficiently detailed feedback - The feedback provided must come constantly in order for an improvement to take place. It must be specific for the activities performed, with concrete examples to know what is done well or where it can be corrected.
The message must be coherent - The conveyed information must have logic in order for employees or teammates to understand what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and what the consequences are. Coherent communication is logical, well planned and transmitted sequentially, so that the message is received correctly and understood in all its content.

In conclusion, effective communication is essential for the smooth running of the organization, for achieving goals and performing the activities that lead to performance. It can be improved by various methods, from sending the message with a positive attitude, to selecting the conveyed information and delivering it to employees or co-workers.