Effective communication has never been more important in business and serves as the building blocks for having strong relationships both internally and externally. This involves not only informing your employees, customers and stakeholders of new information, but also encompasses listening, understanding and adapting to the needs of others. The following CPD article will explore why communication is crucial for organisational success, and will provide some tips on how you can improve your business communication skills.
Why Good Business Communication is Important
Whether online, written or in person, the importance of good communication and the ability to be able to relay information effectively can have far-reaching implications in a workplace setting. Here are just some of the ways that show why good business communication is essential:
Boost Reputation and Productivity
Not only can bad communication cause delays, waste time and cost money, it can also have a negative impact on how your organisation is perceived, both to external parties and to employees. Good communication will improve a business’s reputation and help to ensure they are recognised as an authority figure in their sector.
No matter what your role is within an organisation, it is vital to understand that every time you communicate with other employees, managers or customers, you are representing the business. Therefore, the way that you choose to communicate will either leave a good or bad impression for these exchanges.
Facilitating Collaboration and Teamwork
Regardless of the type of business, teamwork and collaboration are key aspects as you work towards business goals. Facilitators can foster a sense of cooperation and comradery to unite the team. Concise communication helps to ensure each participant can share and express their ideas, concerns and work together. Everyone needs to have the opportunity to be heard, which will lead to better collaborative projects.
Enhancing Employee Morale
Communication will garner a sense of loyalty and trust from employees. Individuals will want to know that their voices are heard at meetings, can put forward effective ideas, or are able to raise concerns and that these are valued. Employers also need to show respect and keep teams updated about what is happening within the organisation. If employees perceive that management are taking their opinions into consideration, this open communication will lead to a higher level of job satisfaction and staff retention.
Improving Customer Relations
Maintaining strong relationships with customers is vital for the success and longevity of any business. Communication doesn’t just relate to marketing emails and promotions, but also includes making sure that customers’ expectations are being met. It is important to ensure that any queries, refunds, or complaints are dealt with in a professional way. By demonstrating that your organisation values its customers, they will remember how they were treated by the company, leading to greater loyalty and repeat business. If they have a positive experience, they will tell others and word of mouth is still an extremely powerful tool.
Effective Crisis Management
Whether the company is going through an economic crisis, a product recall or other unforeseen circumstances, it is vital to have good communication that is clear and delivered in a timely and transparent manner. Important information must be relayed to stakeholders, customers, suppliers and employees which will help to minimise the impact on the organisation.
Negotiation and Globalisation
As many businesses now work on a global scale, good exchanges and communication is key to efficient negotiation. Organisations need to communicate with external parties - suppliers, customers, board members and employees. Individuals sometimes may not speak the same first language, so it’s important that any information conveyed is cross cultural, straightforward and easily understood.
