A lack of communication can ultimately lead to low morale. Because ineffective communication can create misunderstandings, missed opportunities, conflict, the dissemination of misinformation, and mistrust, employees might feel defeated overall.
When you take the time to communicate effectively, you are enabling others to make well-informed decisions. You are also building trust by showing that you consider their opinions and value what they do. They will feel valued because they know what is going on within the home/organization and in turn, be able to make well-informed decisions.
How can lack of communication cause conflict?
What are the major causes of workplace conflict? Poor communication can be the result of a difference in communication styles. Failure to communicate may cause employees to make wrong assumptions and believe in gossip. Poor communication not only causes conflict; it also decreases productivity and profits. For example, if the account person does not communicate clearly with the printing company, the new direct mail campaign may have to be smashed as 100,000 copies have incorrect information!
HRM, the Society for Human Resource Management shared that according to David Grossman’s report in “The Cost of Poor Communications,” a survey of 400 companies with 100,000 employees each cited an average loss per company of $62.4 million per year because of inadequate communication to and between employees. They went on to cite when Debra Hamilton asserted in her article “Top Ten Email Blunders that Cost Companies Money” that miscommunication costs even smaller companies of 100 employees an average of $420,000 per year.
What are the common problems of communication?
Ineffective and Poor Communication Behaviors:
- Not Truly Listening
- Assuming You Know the Message Before the Person Finishes
- Interrupting the Speaker
- Using “You” Statements Instead of “I” Statements
- Letting Your Emotions Dictate Your Response
- Failing to Account for Cultural Differences in Communication
- Misinterpreting the Message
- Being Indirect or Subtle
- Attacking Character Rather Than Behavior
- Avoiding Difficult Conversations
What is the impact of poor communication?
Poor communication can be one of the most damaging factors for an organization. For example, employees might feel like they are not adequately informed about changes, decisions, and other topics relevant to their day-to-day work lives. Although poor communication may seem like an innocent oversight, it has far-reaching implications that impact not only employees but also the overall health/structure of the organization.
When employees are not adequately informed about changes in procedures or new initiatives, they feel like their voices are not being heard. If team members don’t understand why they’re doing something, it can cause friction among them and make people doubt the validity of their work. Communication has a massive effect on employee morale because if workers do not feel like they are being heard, they start to resent management.
Poor communication can lead to missed opportunities. If employees are not informed about what is going on at the top levels of the organization, then their attention will be driven inward towards their team and immediate goals. This makes them miss out on what’s happening beyond their unit/project.
When employees are not properly communicated with, it can cause conflict between managers and their teams. Managers are responsible for relaying information to their team members so that they have an accurate understanding of what is being asked of them. If there is a miscommunication about the details of a project, tasks involved, or expectations for results, this can lead to resentment and tension.
Poor communication is a breeding ground for rumors. Suppose employees don’t receive enough information about changes or dealings within the organization. In that case, they might turn to unofficial channels (such as word-of-mouth) to figure things out on their own. Then, they have very little actual information and just repeat whatever others have told them.
Employees might interpret poor communication as a sign of a lack of interest or respect on the part of management that can erode their trust in the organization. Employees count on management to keep them informed about what’s going on within their department, especially during times of change. If they feel like information is being kept from them, they start to feel that their job is unappreciated and unimportant.
Poor communication within the organization can lead to frustration among employees because they feel a lack of control. They might start to see themselves as powerless in the organization and stop caring about what they do for a living because their contributions seem insignificant. If employees feel like management has little interest in hearing what they have to say, they will eventually give up on standing out or trying to make an impact.
Poor communication can ultimately lead to low morale, because ineffective communication can create misunderstandings, missed opportunities, conflict, the dissemination of misinformation, and mistrust. If this cycle continues, there will be a high turnover rate.
What is the effect of lack of communication skills in relationships?
The lack of communication will most definitely hinder the growth of any relationship. The effects may include:
- An increase in conflict and argumentative behavior
- Individuals may start doing things purposely to get on each other’s nerves
- Blaming each other for everything
- Not complying with rules or requests
How does lack of communication affect families?
Just as effective communication is almost always found in strong, healthy families, poor communication is usually found in unhealthy family relationships. It can lead to numerous family problems, including excessive family conflict, ineffective problem solving, lack of intimacy, and weak emotional bonding.
- Poor communication can prevent family members from effectively coping with situations because they may feel like their concerns are not being heard. Parents might be left in the dark about what is going on in their child’s life, which could lead to issues at home or at school.
- Children are more likely to lash out against family members without proper communication. In addition, misunderstandings about what is going on in the child’s life can lead to tension between parents and their children, which could cause kids to act out.
- If family members are not properly informed about changes within the organization (such as new management or job cuts), they might feel like they’re being blindsided by bad news. This can damage relationships and make family members feel like they don’t really know what’s going on within the organization.
- When communication is not clear and concise, it can lead to tension among family members. If information is being withheld or distorted, then family members might spend unnecessary time fretting about where things are headed or if their concerns are being heard/addressed.
In conclusion, lack of communication not only affects our professional lives but our personal lives as well. Communication is key to a healthy, thriving organization and society. Without effective communication, there will be a breakdown of trust and respect between people.
If you don’t communicate at all, then people are left to feel confused and resentful. The bottom line is this: communication matters because it affects how we relate with one another.
