Communication Counts: Speaking and Listening for Results

How is it that a lack of communication can cause so much harm to an organization? Take a look at the list of problems below and the resulting “impact” associated with each. It’s easy to see why so many failed projects, missed deadlines, and workplace conflicts are attributed to a communication blunder in one or more of these areas.

• Problem 1: Lack of clarity, or incomplete information provided, when communicating
  Impact: Opens the door for the "receiver" to misinterpret the message or make faulty assumptions. This is the root of many misunderstandings.
• Problem 2: Ineffective listening (or reading)
  Impact: The speaker/sender's message is missed in whole or part. Vital information the speaker/sender assumes has been communicated has, in fact, not been received.
• Problem 3: Using the wrong approach, method, or timing when delivering a message
  Impact: Conflicts arise (especially when email is used inappropriately). Important work, assigned the wrong way or at the wrong time, is not done correctly.
• Problem 4: Lack of assertiveness in communication
  Impact: Instead of voicing their true needs, wants, or concerns, employees force others to guess or make assumptions. This is highly inefficient and tends to lead to conflict.
• Problem 5: Too much multi-tasking and too many distractions
  Impact: Work is often not done as well as it could have been; mistakes are made.
• Problem 6: People don't realize how their communication style affects others
  Impact: Individuals are off-putting to co-workers because they don't realize how things like brusqueness or sarcasm can be misconstrued. Morale, teamwork and productivity suffer.

The Communication Counts program provides a brief look at all six of these issues while offering common sense tips on how to prevent them. Viewers observe two leaders of a small, but growing, organization as they put themselves through an online crash course on workplace communication.