Effective communication is an essential tool for the success of businesses in the modern world. It involves transfer or encoding a message from one person (sender) to another person (receiver) with an aim of conveying information to the intended audience. Effective communication involves using the appropriate channel to convey a message which is accurate and easy to understand by the audience. It is a tool that has been used to enhance business operations both internally and externally. The modern increase in the use of technology has increased communication channels and most organizations are able to improve communication through equipping their employees through training them on the effective communication skills to ensure the success of their businesses. Most of the major organizations such as Wal-Mart, Apple Inc. and HP among others use effective communication as a tool for solving internal conflicts and meeting customer needs through collection and sharing of information on the market trends and innovative ways to improve the organization’s productions. Hewlett-Packard for instance has adopted an employee communication channel whereby the company holds 22 communication sessions involving over a thousand employees at sites from several branches around the world.
In order to perceive communication process by HP to be effective, their communication process has certain attributes that indicates that the message conveyed is received by the intended person appropriately. First, the message to be communicated should be clear and easy to understand. This is achieved through using the appropriate channels of communication and making the information as brief as possible. Managers have adopted the use of emails and printed memos to convey written messages and use of phones and even world of mouth to convey the message verbally to the employees. For clarity purposes, the information should be informal and use simple language that is easy to understand by the intended employees in all levels of management and also to the intended external audience.
Also, an effective communication should adhere to correct timing. A delayed message will result in conflicts within the organization especially if the intended audience takes time to respond to the information’s guidelines. This could as a result lead to conflicting interests which as a result leads to decline in business operations. Communicating a message to the right audience at the appropriate timing ensures quick responses and also enables the involved audience to make informed decisions which are intended to affect the organization’s operations in a positive way. Effective communication is also attributed by proper responses and issuing feedback. Effective feedback and response to the contents of the message shows that the audience had received and understood the message or may need further clarifications.
Some of the impacts of effective communication are the creation of an informed working environment with minimal conflicts by improving employees’ contacts. Through effective communication, people are able to understand one another, solve problems and conflicting ideas and calm employee’s frustrations through presenting their concerns to the appropriate audience and looking for possible solutions collectively. Effective communication also promotes a workplace where everyone works towards a common goal of productivity. Through communication, managers are able to include the employees in decision making process through brainstorming for ideas through effective feedback. Employees in different levels of the organizations are also able to report certain concerns that need immediate action as a way of increasing business operations.
Effective communication is a tool that has enabled businesses to cope with competitions by promoting employees’ teamwork towards achieving the organization goals and also enabling the consumers to make informed decisions in their purchasing processes by conveying the benefits of the organization’s products and services. This is by ensuring that the information conveyed is clear, uniform and easy to understand and conveyed in a timely manner hence creating room for immediate feedback.
References
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Kaul, A. (2000). Effective Business Communication. NY: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Stewart, P. (July, 2012). The Importance of Effective Communication at Work. Retrieved from http://packetpushers.net/the-importance-of-effective-communication-at-work/.
