Communication is the cornerstone upon which success is founded upon. It is firmly rooted in our desire to socialize and make connections. However, we take it for granted so much nowadays that we forget what it really is all about. Good communication means more than just opening your mouth or writing and using your words well.
Good communication requires openness, honesty, engagement, and humility. These are things that people sense – the non-verbals. Oftentimes, it is not about what you say, but rather, how you say it. People will be people, and this is something one should master if one wants to succeed.
It just makes sense that the key to a successful business is good communication. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. There is no such thing as a perfect organization. Or a perfect something for that matter.
An organization is a collection of people coming from various walks of life, and inevitably, there will be friction. The assumption that a business operates like a well oiled machine is more of a fallacy. Yes, sometimes, things turn out well. But sometimes, things don’t.
There will always be problems, and that’s just a normal part of the operation.
Problems like:
- Lack of understanding
- Lack of information
- Avoidance
- Bad boss-employee relationship
Once these problems are addressed, new opportunities can be fully explored. Key weaknesses can be addressed and great ideas polished and executed. These in turn lead to success, and of course, a better bottomline.
Improving people’s confidence should be priority number one. If your employees do not feel comfortable talking, then the company might be losing out. A game-changing idea might be brewing in the head of an employee, but if s/he does not speak up, it is no good. Training helps in this area, but it should not end there.
Listening plays an integral part in communication.
Communication fails because people are listening in order to reply, not to understand. Speaking and listening must strike a balance in order for communication to work. Good listening shoujld not only be for co-workers, but for superiors as well. Often, superiors are so busy with their own workloads that employee inputs and suggestions are brushed off. Again, this might prove disastrous in the long run.
The next step is cultivating an office environment that encourages employees to speak their minds. This means proper communication not only between co-workers, but between superior and subordinate as well.When people communicate better, organizations run better.