If organizations could track the impact of bad communication, they would see:
– Impact on productivity due to interpersonal/inter-team conflicts.
– Productive Time is spent to resolve internal challenges and obstacles (and not actual work delivery).
– Impact on individual’s motivation and morale, leading to-higher time taken to do a job, increased absenteeism, negative attitude towards work and/or attrition.
– Lack of Team Cohesiveness and Collaboration.
– Lack of Individual Ownership of tasks and timelines due to a feeling of being treated unfairly.
Most often, when organizations get faced with these challenges, they focus their energies on process improvements, hiring new talent, conducting team workshops and motivation sessions.
Rarely do they focus on the underlying issue: Communication.
Good communication in any workplace has the following 5 components-
1. What is being said
This comprises of the key message of the communication, which could either be giving information, setting the context, sharing a new thought, making a plan, brainstorming a plan etc.
2. Why is it being said
This is the purpose of the message. What is the expected outcome of what you are sharing?
3. How is it being said
This is the soft aspect of communication. Tone, body language, words, intent, etc. come here.
4. Where and When is it being said
Location, setting, and timing are crucial aspects of communication. Is it a group discussion or one on one? Is it the first or the last etc?
5. Who is saying
This is another important component. Depending on the context of the message, the speaker needs to be decided. Does this communication need the Head of the Department? Are all the decision-makers aligned?
All these 5 components of communication are interlinked to each other, one is barren without the other.
The one place where most professionals and leaders falter is the HOW of communication. And that’s what leads to all the hidden negative impacts of bad communication.
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