Effective Communication: Why it Matters

Effective communication at all levels is fundamental to organisational success.

Everybody in an organisation is accountable for their own communication which is why organisations need to make sure that their employees are properly trained in effective communication techniques.

Below is a list of techniques that we’ve found useful and encourage our clients to adopt in the workplace.

Taking the time to listen – It is amazing what you can learn from others when you take the time to listen. Often in a group situation, the person that makes the most noise is the one that people listen to. We’ve seen this time and time again and more often than not, they do not have all the answers. You can get more out of the people you work with if you take the time to listen to each person and manage those that are making the most noise.

Filtering necessary information – When it is your turn to pass on information, cut out the unnecessary information and only give people what they need. This will speed up communication channels, increasing efficiency and saving time.

Being clear and concise – Be clear and concise when reporting or passing on information to others. This principle applies to all forms of communication. People don’t have the time or the patience to read an essay-length report when you could have given them the same information in a few dot points.

Knowing the right form of communication – Knowing the correct communication channels to use for the right situation can save you valuable time and money. This applies to both internal and external communication. Should I make face-to-face contact, send an email, or make a phone call? There is no point going out to visit a client to ask a few simple questions that you could have done via an email or phone call and by doing this, you have wasted your time as well as your clients.

Finally, for communication to work effectively there needs to be an environment where questioning, discussing, reasoning and feedback are encouraged, as this is the nucleus for better communication.