by Pamela Jett, CSP
Does communication improve employee engagement? The answer is a resounding “yes!” Does effective communication contribute to an organization’s financial performance? Absolutely! According to Watson Wyatt’s 2009/2010 Communication ROI Study Report, effective employee communication is a leading indicator of financial performance and a driver of employee engagement. In fact, research reveals that companies with highly effective communicators had 47% higher total returns to shareholders over the last five years compared with firms that are the least effective communicators.
Further research indicates that the best organizations invest in helping leaders and managers communicate with employees. The best organizations provide leaders and managers with the tools necessary to clearly communicate vision, values, and objectives – especially during times of change or economic difficulty. Top companies treat their managers and leaders as a special audience – offering additional training to help them manage.
So, my question to you is - what are you doing to invest in your communication skills or the skills of your leaders and managers? There is a direct correlation between good communication skills and bottom-line results. It makes sense, good financial sense, to make sure employees have the soft skills, the people skills, the communication skills they need to succeed. Far too often employers invest only in technical training and neglect soft skills training. Now is the time to evaluate your own personal professional development plan to make sure you are investing in your communication skills (even if your employer won’t make that investment.) If you are a leader or manager, now is the time to evaluate your organization’s training schedule to ensure a balance of technical and soft skill programs. Give leaders, managers, and yourself the communication skills you need to succeed and for your organization to thrive.
Tags: career development, communication, Employee Engagement
