Factors Influencing Communication at Workplace

Effective communication forms an integral part in the success of the business in today’s world. It becomes more important and complex when the workplace is multicultural or diverse. Among many factors that influence communication process in a workplace, three of them are discussed below.

Running head: FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMUNICATION AT WORKPLACE
FACTORS IINFLUENCING COMMUNICATION AT WORKPLACE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
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1FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMUNICATION AT WORKPLACE
TO:
FROM: The Director, XYZ Company
DATE: 20.03.2019
SUBJECT: Factors Impacting on Communication in Today’s Workplace
Effective communication forms an integral part in the success of the business in today’s
world. It becomes more important and complex when the workplace is multicultural or
diverse. Among many factors that influence communication process in a workplace, three of
them are discussed below.
1. Cultural Differences:
The everyday work of an organization is majorly influenced by the communication
gap due to cultural differences within the institution. The Multi-National Companies are
generally faced with the problem since they have a multicultural and multinational
workforce. Therefore, due to the language gap there is a considerable chance of
misunderstanding and wrong interpretation of a message which can further lead to
misunderstanding within the workforce or with the senior. Also, since the organizations deal
globally therefore, one wrong decision led by a misinterpretation can cause agitating situation
for a company. Moreover. Diversified workforce can also create stereotypical ideas within
the workforce regarding one’s culture. Certain behaviour can also lead to communication gap
and therefore prove to be disquieting point for the company. Multi-ethnic workforce can also
posit issues for a company to work without any hindrances. Employee from ethnic groups are
often get judged by others and are regarded with negative notions. This further creates
language barrier within the workforce (Van den et al., 2013).

2FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMUNICATION AT WORKPLACE
2. Environmental Factors:
The environment of an organization is influenced by certain factors which in turn
affect the communication processes of the organization as well. An organization that is
governed by extreme formal behavioral conducts and strict disciplinary methods, there will
be communication gap within the employees. Stern work culture do not left room for the
employees to behave in a natural way. Moreover, strict and formal environments restrict
development of a personal relationship between the subordinate and their seniors. It also
restricts development of a healthy relationship among the employees. This in turn, affects the
production of the company (De Choudhury & Counts, 2013). A good communication is
always a need for good production for any company. Another important factor that influences
the environment of an institution is the technological soundness of the organization. Higher
level of technology results in efficient, accurate and quick communication within the
workforce. Impotent or sluggish technology can affect the production and workflow of the
company and also lead to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of data. Therefore, a sound
technological system is essential for a company (Zhang & Venkatesh, 2013).
3. Active Listening Sills:
Poor concentration on the part of the employee or the superior, is very essential for a
proper communication process. Active listening skill ensures that the person being told to has
a proper understanding of the situation or the concept that is being described. It also ensures
that the communication process is successful. Moreover, paying heed to the words of an
employee on the part of an employer, induces in him a sense of importance for the company.
Moreover, it is essential for the employees to listen carefully to the employers since it may
hinder the work processes and understanding of concepts properly. Further, active learning
skill ensures good communication flow and lowers the chances of communication breakdown
(Men & Stacks, 2014).

3FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMUNICATION AT WORKPLACE
References:
De Choudhury, M., & Counts, S. (2013, February). Understanding affect in the workplace via
social media. In Proceedings of the 2013 conference on Computer supported
cooperative work (pp. 303-316). ACM.
Men, L. R., & Stacks, D. (2014). The effects of authentic leadership on strategic internal
communication and employee-organization relationships. Journal of Public Relations
Research, 26(4), 301-324.
van den Eertwegh, V., van Dulmen, S., van Dalen, J., Scherpbier, A. J., & van der Vleuten,
C. P. (2013). Learning in context: Identifying gaps in research on the transfer of
medical communication skills to the clinical workplace. Patient education and
counseling, 90(2), 184-192.
Zhang, X., & Venkatesh, V. (2013). Explaining employee job performance: The role of
online and offline workplace communication networks. Mis Quarterly, 695-722.