Why Business Communication Skills?

The ongoing need for high-quality and high-quantity business communication skills between an organization’s management and its employees never changes. Yet, even though the positive effects of communication on a company’s performance and culture are well documented, some companies and their management teams just don’t seem to get it. Today’s economic uncertainties and the resulting pressures that are placed on companies and their employees make the need for communication even greater.

Unfortunately, even companies that communicated wonderfully in good times often stop communicating when the tide turns. This is not the time to stop communicating and adopt a “no news is better than bad news” attitude. I know of a company that, for years, held monthly company-wide meetings which the employees looked forward to. They would learn how the company was doing, what new orders had been received, what customers were saying about their work, and what the plans were for the future. Sales have slowed down dramatically over the last few months and the meetings stopped, without explanation. The employees were suddenly in the dark. Rather than trying to bring the employees into the solution, the company had shut off communication. The lack of information made the employees think that things were even worse than they were. Layoffs were occurring and the employees were nervous. Recently, after realizing the mistake in judgment, the president stated the employees thanking them for their understanding, explaining the current situation, and reinstating the monthly meetings. Not surprisingly, the employee mood has changed. While there is still stress, the behavior of the employees caused by a fear of the unknown is changing to a resolve to work together to get through a difficult time.

I have heard numerous excuses by management in various companies attempting to explain why communication has stopped. There is never a good excuse, but one of the lamest is that management is too busy trying to cope with the crisis to take time to communicate with the employees. “We don’t have time for that anymore,” I have been told, “and anyway, they know that things are not good”. Just when the entire organization needs to pull together, many of its members are left in the dark. Instead of working together to help, these people will spend their time wondering what is going on, how bad things really are, and what management is doing to improve the situation.

Another really poor excuse that some use for not communicating is the same one that many parents use to avoid telling their children bad news: “It’s for their own good, I need to protect them, why do they need to know?” 

How to Teach Business Communication

Employees are not children. Their careers and their families may be at risk. Their understanding and involvement will not incentivize them to leave the company as many managers fear. On the contrary, they will likely feel more a part of the “family” with a mission to improve the situation and make it work. Being part of the team, being included, and being part of the solution will also improve their acceptance of some of the less pleasant changes that may have to be made to ensure the company’s survival. And, whether management wants to admit it or not, they cannot solve the company’s problems alone. They need the entire organization’s help. Management needs to forget their egos and their ideas of being the hero. The solution will be much better if they follow the philosophy that companies need to find a way to engage the minds of every single employee. And one way to help make this happen is by continuing to communicate. Whether the news is good or bad.