Advantage of Communication Skills

  

Higher Engagement

When you’re the leader, you want all of your employees to work hard all the time. But that’s not realistic. Most employees in the U.S. are going through the motions at work. It’s common sense to talk to employees about work-related issues. However, talking about topics that fall outside of the job increases engagement among employees. Communicating with employees about work and non-work topics in meetings, face-to-face, or even over the phone has shown that employees are more involved in and enthusiastic about their workplace. They are committed to the company.

More Friends and Connections

Email. Social media. Phones. Technology rules the world of communication. It’s easy to get lost in the heap. But communicating face-to-face helps to establish friendships and connections regardless of the setting. In a book by the small-talk expert Don Gabor, he describes how to communicate conversationally. He says having open body language and being the first person to initiate conversation will help to foster relationships, making it easier to connect with friends, co-workers or strangers.

Breeds Trust

When you trust someone, you’re able to rely on them and confide in them. You know that they will perform well if asked to work on a task. A study asked students to collaborate on a project. One group communicated only in person. The other only through technological means where less-visual cues were given. The group that met face-to-face showed the most trust and effective cooperation. When meeting in person, it is easier to pick out the body language and other visual cues of communication. It helps people to better understand each other and the message that’s being conveyed. Managers have even shown a preference for meeting in smaller groups of one or two people. They say that when they do so, performance is better among employees.

Builds Long-lasting Relationships

Everyone knows at least one person who has had some of the same friends for decades. Research shows that it’s not only what a person says that keeps these relationships intact, but the way you say it. A University of Southern California research team has found that the way you communicate something determines lifelong relationships. They measured non-verbal cues such as tone, pitch, and intensity during arguments between married couples. The couples that had controlled vocal acoustics were more likely to stay together. Any relationship whether marriage or friendship will fare better if you speak in kinder and more understanding ways.

Establishes Professionalism

You might be the next Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs. However, people may not realize that or they’ll think less of you because of your lackluster communication skills. A study showed physical therapists with better interpersonal skills were seen as more competent. Even though the physical therapists knew their professions well, it was the ones who connected with the patients that were perceived as capable and knowledgeable.

Surviving Catastrophe

When the going gets tough, employees get nervous. Will they have a paycheck in six months? How long should they wait before jumping ship? Is the boss leveling with them about how bad things are? If management fudges the facts or ducks discussion, it can kill employees' faith in the company. Talking honestly about the situation can strengthen their trust. The best companies don't wait until disaster strikes to start communicating. If the company's been honest and communicating effectively all along, they have a valuable reservoir of trust built up.

Managing Diversity

Good communication is even more important if the workforce is diverse. With a mix of races, nationalities, genders or faiths on the job, it's easy for people to accidentally offend each other. If promotion and employee review rules aren't clear, minority workers may feel they've been discriminated against. Policies that clearly spell out how the company applies rewards and penalties can clear things up. Clear guidelines telling employees how to treat each other helps avoid unwanted conflict.

Dealing With Problems

Bad communication causes all sorts of problems. Two employees receive conflicting instructions. HR issues a warning without finding out what the real issues are. A supervisor doesn't respond to questions or avoids discussing employee issues. These are all examples of poor communication. Good communication skills can resolve the problems, or better yet prevent them from developing in the first place.