Effective Workplace Communication: Theories and Obstacles

Effective workplace communication is essential for a great working environment and higher job satisfaction. It can lead to faster project completion and improved relationships. However, even the most articulate individuals may face difficulties in expression, which can negatively impact job output, professional relationships, and everyday tasks. Success and happiness in the workplace depend on identifying and overcoming communication hurdles.This research aims to analyze the obstacles that restrict workers from communicating effectively in the workplace and examine some broad theories of organizational communication. The last section of the assignment describes the measures taken by Target UK to address issues with internal communication.  

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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 2
Organisational communication philosophies ............................................................................. 3
Evaluate the obstacles stopping workers from speaking clearly at work .................................. 5
The steps Target UK has taken .................................................................................................. 6
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 8
References .................................................................................................................................. 9

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Introduction
Effective workplace communication leads to a great working environment and higher job
satisfaction. When workers communicate effectively, projects may be finished more quickly
and relationships may be improved. Yet, difficulties in expression may arise even for the most
articulate individuals. When people have trouble communicating with one another, it may have
a negative impact on job output, professional relationships, and everyday tasks. Success in the
workplace and happiness in the workplace depends on your ability to identify communication
hurdles and know how to overcome them. (Glassdoor, 2021)
The purpose of this research is to analyse the obstacles that restrict workers from properly
speaking in the workplace and to examine some broad theories of organisational
communication. The last section of the assignment involves describing the measures taken by
Target UK to address issues with internal communication.

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Organisational communication philosophies
Throughout the last several decades, organisational communication has seen remarkable
growth. The growth of management theorists—those who seek to define the "correct way" for
an organization that operates with the emergence of large industry and the management
approach to managing a corporation. As a result, many people involved in management have
added their perspectives to strategic management. (Management Study Guide, 2022)
The Classical Organizational Theory of Max Weber
Prominent management theorist Max Weber advocated for the study of organisations from an
early stage. His idea of bureaucracy is an early attempt to define the dynamics of businesses
and the value of internal communication channels. The Weberian theory of the firm postulates
that effective communication channels result from a clear separation of responsibilities. To
ensure that there is no space for error in the signals being transmitted from the top down,
organisations have strict machine-like structures in which each contributes to the knowledge
using defined and explicit jobs and responsibilities (theory is naturally a top-down one).
Naturally, merit is given a prominent position in Weberian analysis, and organisations function
by assigning tasks in accordance with predetermined measures of competence and seniority.
(Management Study Guide, 2022)
Tompkins and Cheney Present Their Theory of Organizational Regulation
Organizational control theory as developed by Tompkins and Cheney is a modification of
Weber's theories for post-bureaucratic but still not completely unstructured businesses. Simple
control, technical control, bureaucratic control, and concerted control are the four types of
control proposed by this theory as the determinants of the internal exercise of power in
organisations. All organisations, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, may be
categorised into one of four distinct modalities of command, depending on the degree to which
its members comprehend their place within the broader total. Tompkins and Cheney's theory
of control and interaction in organisations, the argument goes, transcends both Weber's original
vision and the insights of postmodern theorists. (Management Study Guide, 2022)

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The Deetz Model of Managerialism
Stanley Deetz's Managerialism Theories is one such effort to characterise how organisational
communications and organisational control occur in organisations where classical conceptions
have been replaced by a recognition of the economic and political interests and the necessity
to represent and give power to these different interests. The most fascinating aspect of Deetz's
concept is that he does not just adhere to prevailing ideas about what an organisation is, but
rather presents a vision of organisations that takes into consideration both popular democratic
aspirations and established power structures. This method, in opposition to Weber's faceless
bureaucracy with Tompkins and Cheney's superior control theory, acknowledges that meaning
lives in individuals rather than in their phrases and strives to reveal the motivations driving
these meanings. Because of the urgent necessity to recognise the management class as a power
that must be reckoned with in organizations at the end of the 20th century, Deetz's theory
reflects the natural progression of an organisational theory of communication and control.
(Management Study Guide, 2022)

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Evaluate the obstacles stopping workers from speaking clearly at work
Any factor that prevents or leads to misunderstandings in the free exchange of knowledge
between employees and management is considered a communicative barrier in the workplace.
There are three common types of barriers to communication:
• Physical impediments to communication at work include environmental constraints.
Examples include office layouts that keep workers from seeing each other, the inherent
challenges of working remotely, and even physical doors that keep workers apart.
• Uncertainty or anxiousness may obstruct communication on an emotional level.
Employees may feel uneasy around an intimidating employer, which would deter them
from speaking out.
• Barriers in written, spoken, and physical signals all fall under the broader category of
linguistic obstacles to communication. Language barriers might arise using jargon,
ambiguous body language, or regionally specific dialects. (Glassdoor, 2021)
Disadvantages in team performance, individual productivity, and the quality of working
relationships may result from difficulties in communicating with co-workers. The first step in
solving a communication problem is recognising that there is one. (Glassdoor, 2021)
Keeping the lines of communication open at work helps everyone feel more comfortable and
at ease, which in turn boosts productivity and fosters cohesive teams. If you want to establish
a productive culture and make it easier for your colleagues to share information and ideas, you
need to find out what's getting in the way of communication at work and figure out how to
overcome those obstacles. (Glassdoor, 2021)

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The steps Target UK has taken
There has been a significant shift in the last couple of decades away from traditional offices
and towards online platforms for doing business. The cloud is where we do business and where
we have our most productive conversations. Yet the problems with communication that we
experienced decades ago are still with us. These are some tried-and-true strategies for breaking
down obstacles to the conversation in the workplace. (Ayraud, 2022)
Try using a variety of methods to get your message across
It may not be a problem of a lack of communication if you feel that you aren't getting your
point across to your colleagues. Several people on your team could even dislike the way you
choose to provide information. The email was the go-to method of communication in many
businesses until recently. Although it had many redeeming qualities, it also had flaws,
necessitating the development of other methods. Apps for group chat, video chat, phone calls,
screen sharing, etc., like Chanty. (Ayraud, 2022)
Maintain a record of all your conversations
Let's say your team relies on email, a team chat tool, and Zoom for its communications. You
have a query for your project manager concerning something that must be completed today,
but you aren't sure how to contact them. (Ayraud, 2022)
Try to comprehend your employees
Most communication breakdowns in the workplace may be traced back to a fundamental lack
of mutual understanding between parties. We are unable to have an effective conversation due
to our mutual lack of comprehension, which prevents us from appreciating each other's
perspectives and relating to each other on a level that is relevant to our respective working
environments. Make sure everyone in your team is aware of what other groups and colleagues
are up to avoid this situation. They will have a clearer picture of what is expected of them and
how they fit into the larger scheme of things at your organisation. (Ayraud, 2022)
Drop everything and just say what must be said
Most communication breakdowns occur when we share information or bring in others who
aren't essential to the conversation. Always keep your communication on the topic, regardless
of who you're talking to or where you are. While discussing a new project, it's best to stay on

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topic and avoid sharing irrelevant memes or gifs. If you need a place to talk about things that
have nothing to do with work, you can always create a separate group or channel for that.
(Ayraud, 2022)
The appropriate people may be invited to a specific channel or group with current chat software.
(Ayraud, 2022)

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Conclusion
It is important to remember that these theories are not objective truths but rather representations
of reality and the ideals held by their advocates. There is no evidence to dispute the existence
of such structures or to prove that they are not genuine. On the other hand, the systems
perspective, which has emerged in the last several years, offers a sophisticated perspective on
the organisational theory that is current and applicable to the adaptive and responsive
businesses of the twenty-first century. (Management Study Guide, 2022)
True, the theorists covered here were trailblazers in their day, and the new breed of
management specialists is advancing the ideas of these theorists. In conclusion, all management
theorists agree that organisational models always evolve and that as a result, each new
generation of management theorists builds upon the foundation laid by the prior one.
(Management Study Guide, 2022)
Effective workplace communication is the foundation for a productive and collaborative work
environment. To establish a productive culture and enable the exchange of information
amongst colleagues, it is necessary to identify the obstacles to interaction at work and use
effective communication tactics to overcome these barriers. (Glassdoor, 2021)
Despite advancements in technology, many of the issues with professional communication
have not altered much in the last several decades. Using appropriate channels, demonstrating
empathy for teammates, keeping track of your communication procedures, and
considering what you communicate and to whom may enhance team communication. (Ayraud,
2022)

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References
Ayraud, H. (2022). 4 Ways to Overcome Communication Barriers in the Workplace.
Retrieved 03 03, 2023, from https://www.sandler.com/blog/4-ways-overcome-
communication-barriers-workplace/
Glassdoor. (2021). Barriers to Communication in the Workplace and Ways to Help.
Retrieved 03 02, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/barriers-to-
communication-in-the-workplace/
Management Study Guide. (2022). Popular Theories of Organizational Communication.
Retrieved 03 01, 2023, from https://www.managementstudyguide.com/theories-of-
organizational-communication.htm