Becoming communication masters: the goal of all managers

We all know that communication is one of the keys to a successful organization. But, do you know precisely why? Studies show that managers devote a great part of their time to communication. To be precise, they generally commit approximately 6 hours per day to communicating. That is a lot of time, right? If an activity takes up so much of our working day, we should not only pay attention to it but become experts at it.

Here is a brief list of some of the reasons why communication is so important:

• It motivates people: knowing what is happening, why and what is expected of them is a great way to motivate staff. People can adjust their attitudes and expectations to the company’s reality, feeling more motivated to reach targets.

• It eases the decision-making processes: At Virtualmind, we encourage our staff to be independent and feel free to make their own decisions in their daily work. However, we have learned that the only way people feel confident to make critical decisions is if they have as much information as possible.

• It creates a better work environment: Secrets, rumors, and hearsay are the worst thing that can happen to any company. Open and clear communication not only motivates people but also creates a better and more transparent work environment, where all staff is on the same page and has a clear notion of where the company is going and what are the big decisions being taken. 

• It means a better final product: when communication flows, the final results show it. We have all worked in projects where only some people were fully informed of the changes that appeared, or you found out about a major change request at a meeting with the client: a recipe for disaster. On the contrary, when there is a clear communication flow system, the final product reflects it: there are fewer problems and fewer corrections, and the overall quality tends to be much higher.

• It is the best leading tool for managers: as we have already said, managers spend a great amount of time “just” communicating. So, it is no surprise that one of the management success indicators has to do with how well they can transmit their ideas to their team. When people feel they are taken into account and are in the clear about what is expected of them, they work better.

So, communication is not a minor issue. The fact that it is present in all our interactions, that there is no moment when we are not communicating in one way or another should make us pay even more attention to it. It is not just a necessity, but an art we should master.