Communication Skills at Workplace
Introduction
Communication skills are significant in all systems of an organization. The effective flow of information, ideas and views from managers to employees affects the overall production. Employees’ satisfaction and loyalty depend on the effectiveness of information flow in the workplace. Although some employees are motivated through financial incentives, their performance may be affected adversely by failure in communication systems. In essence, good communication skills help to evade psychological stress, collision of duties, employee absenteeism and frustration (Dixon and Martin). This research paper therefore seeks to highlight the importance of communication skills at the workplace. To achieve this, two different interviews are conducted involving two working professionals in UK, the first interview with the Managing Director for African Potash Company and the other with a senior accountant in Active Energy Group Ltd Company in UK.
Research methodology
The main source of data used in this research paper was structured interviews. In the first interview, the aim was to gather views and opinions from a managing director, concerning the significance of both writing and speaking skills at workplace. Several structured questions were used to solicit for first hand data from the manager who gave diverse opinions. Remarkably, the relationship between production levels and employee satisfaction were major issues in the interview. The managing director was required to give his views concerning the causes and demerits of poor communication skills. He was a major target due to his credibility and routine interactions with employees in the African Potash Company. The other source of information on the significance of communication skills was from interviewing an accountant. The accountant was required to share his opinion concerning writing skills as far as the communication of financial information was concerned. He was also required to share his views on how speaking skills affects social relationships at workplace.
Results
Results from the two interviews conducted to a managing director and an accountant revealed several issues concerning communication skills in the workplace. According to the responses of both interviewees, good listening skills improve employee performance and reduce frustrations. The opinions from the accountant show that an organization cannot maximize output unless credible information flows from the managers to the employees. According to the consent of the accountant, employee selection and training are basics for nurturing good speaking skills such as eloquence. The managing director disagreed that speaking skills could be associated with poor management styles. He suggested that every stakeholder in any organization was responsible for improving one’s communication skills. According to the accountant, not all the parties in any given workplace can understand each other unless they improve their writing and speaking skills.
Discussion
Listening, writing and speaking skills are essential to both the managers and employees at workplace. Different users of information in organizations prefer accurate, conscience and clear written works, for instance, accountants rely on accurate quantifiable data to prepare proper financial statements and to show the liquidity of the organization (Life Care Inc). Similarly, a good writing skill helps the organization to have a true picture of assets, liabilities, shareholders claims and retained earnings. On the other hand, the efficiency of management is affected significantly by speaking skills. Employees may fail to understand the information from their superiors in case the latter have neither self-confidence nor command. It is therefore necessary for managers to portray courage, self-interest and audibility when communicating. In addition, prior preparation on what to speak is important. Many of public speeches during Annual General Meetings require close mastery of knowledge regarding the subject matter (Sobel). A major challenge facing effective communication today is the failure to plan and practice
Moreover, speaking skills are closely associated with maximization of time in workplace. It has been a common practice for people with poor speaking skills to waste more time when speaking than expected. The use of difficult and ambiguous words and phrases in communication leads to misunderstanding. As a result, employees may get confused and reduce their performance. On the other hand, proper listening skills improve employees’ level of concentration. This may call for employee patience during speeches from managers. Remarkably, employees cannot have peace of mind unless they get the right information from the top management. The level of inter-departmental synergy depends on how effective the colleagues communicate. Good speaking skills improve interpersonal relationships at the departmental levels. On a different note, communication skills at workplace affect the image of the organization in the society. The public needs to understand the relationship between the employees and the managers (Integrate Ireland Language & Training). Similarly, customers will only buy products after they are convinced to buy through aggressive advertisements
In conclusion, communication skills are fundamental aspects at workplace. Managers should be able to convey information in the right manner and at the right time. Employees should be good listeners. It is only reliable information that will improve employee motivation, reduce stress, collision and increase the overall performance. An organization cannot achieve efficiency in either management or production unless its’ managers and employees improve their communication skills.
Works Cited
Dixon, Tara, and Martin O’hara. Communication Skills. N.p., 2011. Web. <http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415537902/data/learning/11_Communication%20Skills.pdf>.
Integrate Ireland Language & Training. The Productive Skills: Speaking and Writing. Ballsbridge, Ireland: Integrate Ireland Language & Training, 2004. Web. <http://www.ncca.ie/uploadedfiles/Curriculum/inclusion/Productive_skills.pdf>.
Life Care Inc. Communication Skills for Healthy Relationships. Life Care Inc., 2011. Web. <http://www.wfm.noaa.gov/workplace/EffectivePresentation_Handout_1.pdf>.
Sobel, Nora. Intercultural Skills Program: Communication Skills for Canadian Workplace. Red River College of Applied Arts, Science, and Technology, 2012. Web. <http://www.rrc.ca/files/file/diversity/CommunicationSkills.pdf>.
A list of the interview questions
- Does speaking skills affect the relationship between you and your employees?
- What are the possible causes of poor communication skills in your company?
- Is there any relationship between employees’ communication skills and the general productivity in your company? If yes, explain.
- Poor communication skills lead to employee frustration and psychological stress
- YES———–
- NO————
(Explain your answer)