Importance of Good Communication in the Workplace

This article discusses the importance of good communication in the workplace, including the advantages of good communication, how to communicate effectively, and more.

Running head: GOOD COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
GOOD COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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GOOD COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Answer to question 1:
Communication is the most essential and important aspect for every workplace across the
world. A gap in communication often leads to catastrophic results. Therefore, organizations
across1 different fields give immense value to communication strategies in order to ensure
success.
In the workplace, it is important for every individual to communicate effectively because
a lack in communication might lead to confusions and misunderstandings thus hampering the
organization. In order to make sure that the communication is done properly, certain things are
there that individuals need to do.
At first, they must become good listeners because without listening properly, they cannot
reply effectively and it would result in poor communication. As some scholars explain, in spite
of spending much time to listening throughout the day, individuals fail to interact effectively in
the workplace especially during interpersonal interactions2. Therefore, it is important to pay
extreme attention while listening to people whether it is the colleague, the customer or the senior.
The next important thing that must be done at the workplace is to possess an open-
minded attitude while communicating. Individuals must understand that being open-minded
allows the listener to understand clearly, what the speaker is trying to convey. Entering into a
conversation with an open mind makes communication flexible and smooth. At the workplace,
different kinds of people with different experiences and backgrounds are there and having an
open mind helps in communicating effectively to everyone.
1 Eklof, Mats, and Gunnar Ahlborg Jr. "Improving communication among healthcare workers: a controlled study."
Journal of Workplace Learning 28.2 (2016): 81-96.
2 Fedesco, Heather Noel. "The impact of (in) effective listening on interpersonal interactions." International Journal
of Listening 29.2 (2015): 103-106.

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GOOD COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Further, it is important to have confidence while communicating at the workplace
because individuals face situations where they have to communicate with designated people like
their bosses3. While communicating to these higher ranked people, confidence is the key to
ensure a positive impression. Confident communicators are more likely to taste success in the
workplace than the ones who are low in confidence while communicating.
Lastly, picking the right medium is another important thing to do in order to
communicate well at the workplace. By right medium, it means the form of communication
necessary for different situations and contexts. To cite an example, communication regarding
serious matters like salary changes, layoffs and so on are best achieved in person rather than in
groups. Apart from that, if the person with whom the individual needs to communicate is busy,
then the individual could communicate through email to avoid unwanted wrath of that person.
Answer to question 2:
Good communication in the workplace, as mentioned in the previous question, ensures
success whereas ineffective communication produces disastrous result for the organization4.
Many advantages of good communication are there, some of which shall be discussed below.
The first advantage is that it increases productivity. When communication is effectively
carried out throughout the organization, employees become well aware of their responsibilities
and work accordingly. Good communication leads to minimum waste of time that happen due to
misunderstandings. Further, it enables the employees to prioritize the tasks given to them and
hence, it leads it productivity.
3 Hagemeier, Nicholas E., et al. "Impact of an interprofessional communication course on nursing, medical, and
pharmacy students’ communication skill self-efficacy beliefs." American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 78.10
(2014): 186.
4 J-Ho, Siew Ching, and T. Ramayah. "The Good, Bad and Ugly Sides of Internet Usage in the Workplace." Journal
of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies 2.2 (2016): 159-166.

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GOOD COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Second, good communication at the workplace builds strong sense of identity amongst
employees, which in turn encourages them to be loyal to the organization. When senior managers
or leaders converse with junior employees in a friendly manner, it gives the employees an added
boost and a sense of being valued.
Third, when a workplace employs good communication, it leads to customer satisfaction
as well5. When there is no lack of communication amongst employees within the workplace, it
encourages collaborative work and when employees work collaboratively, it reflects in their
handling of the customers as well. the customers also sense a positive vibe and are compelled to
be attracted to the organization.
Fourth, good communication reduces confusion within the teams at the workplace.
Unclear instructions and guidelines being communicated by team leaders or other senior
managers to junior employees makes it difficult for them to work properly. Therefore, good
communication meaning clear conveyance of instructions or guidelines makes the work smooth
and easier to handle.
Fifth, good communication manages to overcome one of the biggest issues in the
workplace – managing diversity. It is obvious in a global working environment that workplaces
will have employees with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Possessing an effective
communication strategy helps manage this issue easily.
Lastly, good communication helps organization survive probable catastrophe by making
every member work on specified goals thus elevating the company. Employees often develop
5 Jacobs, Mark A., Wantao Yu, and Roberto Chavez. "The effect of internal communication and employee
satisfaction on supply chain integration." International Journal of Production Economics 171 (2016): 60-70.

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GOOD COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
fear regarding the certainty of their position at the workplace, their salary, partiality and so on6.
These concerns often lead to poor performance, if not addressed clearly and timely.
Communicating honestly and openly with the employees will lead to better results and avoidance
of catastrophes.
6 Brewer, Edward C., and Terence L. Holmes. "Better communication= better teams: a communication exercise to
improve team performance." IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication 59.3 (2016): 288-298.

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GOOD COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
References:
Brewer, Edward C., and Terence L. Holmes. "Better communication= better teams: a
communication exercise to improve team performance." IEEE Transactions on Professional
Communication 59.3 (2016): 288-298.
Eklof, Mats, and Gunnar Ahlborg Jr. "Improving communication among healthcare workers: a
controlled study." Journal of Workplace Learning 28.2 (2016): 81-96.
Fedesco, Heather Noel. "The impact of (in) effective listening on interpersonal interactions."
International Journal of Listening 29.2 (2015): 103-106.
Hagemeier, Nicholas E., et al. "Impact of an interprofessional communication course on nursing,
medical, and pharmacy students’ communication skill self-efficacy beliefs." American Journal of
Pharmaceutical Education 78.10 (2014): 186.
Jacobs, Mark A., Wantao Yu, and Roberto Chavez. "The effect of internal communication and
employee satisfaction on supply chain integration." International Journal of Production
Economics 171 (2016): 60-70.
J-Ho, Siew Ching, and T. Ramayah. "The Good, Bad and Ugly Sides of Internet Usage in the
Workplace." Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies 2.2 (2016): 159-
166.