communication skills in business planning

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How Great Leaders Communicate

• Carmine Gallo

Four strategies to motivate and inspire your team.

Transformational leaders are exceptional communicators. In this piece, the author outlines four communication strategies to help motivate and inspire your team: 1) Use short words to talk about hard things. 2) Choose sticky metaphors to reinforce key concepts. 3) Humanize data to create value. 4). Make mission your mantra to align teams.

In the age of knowledge, ideas are the foundation of success in almost every field. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if you can’t persuade anyone else to follow your vision, your influence and impact will be greatly diminished. And that’s why communication is no longer considered a “soft skill” among the world’s top business leaders. Leaders who reach the top do not simply pay lip service to the importance of effective communication. Instead, they study the art in all its forms — writing, speaking, presenting — and constantly strive to improve on those skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

Partner Center

Daring Leadership Institute: a groundbreaking partnership that amplifies Brené Brown's empirically based, courage-building curriculum with BetterUp’s human transformation platform.

What is Coaching?

Types of Coaching

Discover your perfect match : Take our 5-minute assessment and let us pair you with one of our top Coaches tailored just for you.

Find your coach

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

For Business

For Individuals

The 5 business communication skills worth perfecting

Jump to section

The importance of business communication skills 

5 essential business communication skills, 6 effective business communication techniques, final tips for improving your communication skills, how to include business communication skills in job applications, make sure everyone gets the memo.

Communication likely takes up a big chunk of your daily to-do list. 

A typical workday often includes one-on-one meetings and team check-ins. You must also field client or requests, manager questions, and regular Slack notifications. For a brief moment, maybe you see a satisfying “0” in your inbox. And at the end of the day, you make the final touches on assignments due the next day before popping into a weekly team wrap-up. 

Every communication requires the right messaging. And it’s not just about what you say but how you say it. A convincing elevator pitch requires confident body language and eye contact , and conflict resolution calls for logical and empathetic language.

Effective business communication skills are built on overlapping soft skills , like cultural awareness , active listening , and assertiveness. Learning the essentials of communication for each medium and adapting your message accordingly helps you avoid miscommunications and safeguard your productivity.

According to a 2022 report by Grammarly and The Harris Poll, poor communication costs $12,506 per employee yearly — and this number is growing as work becomes increasingly virtual . Widely adopted communication channels like messenger apps, Google Drive, and remote work platforms all present new learning curves.

According to the same survey, time spent on written communication increased by 18% between 2022 and 2023. Yet the effectiveness of written correspondence experienced a 12% decline. This means the average worker spends more time drafting ineffective business writing.

Humans use more than words to communicate. Experts estimate that 70% of your communication is nonverbal . Advocating your personal boundaries , landing a sale , and making a good first impression all depend on more than the words you choose. And body posture, facial expressions, and gestures all send messages to your listener, whether in person or in a virtual boardroom.

The methods you develop to communicate effectively are among the most important soft skills in business because honing them ensures you send the right message.

To truly acknowledge the importance of effective communication , you must constantly habituate new skills. Here are five that offer immense professional development . 

1. Collaboration skills

No one works in a vacuum. Even introverted remote workers often collaborate with clients, managers, and teammates. But your collaboration skills help you effectively work with diverse teams , properly delegating tasks and respecting several decision-making styles . 

One of the strongest pillars of collaboration is open communication, which involves ensuring you and your team respect and encourage all perspectives to foster trust and stimulate creativity . Work on your flexibility, empathy , and active listening skills to encourage open communication.

2. Negotiation skills

You might flex your negotiation skills without even realizing it. Negotiation extends beyond discussing work contracts or bargaining salaries and perks . At the core of negotiation is conflict resolution — two parties with different needs trying to find a mutually beneficial solution. 

Whether requesting a more flexible work schedule or delegating tasks to your team , work on understanding everyone’s position and finding win-win outcomes for all. Flexing negotiation skills to accomplish this might mean:

• Offering data to showcase your productivity levels from home
• Speaking confidently to assure the listener you have their best interests at heart
• Listening attentively to and addressing others’ reservations.

3. Presentation skills

Knowing what you want to say is one thing — effectively delivering information is another. You need to be clear and compelling to grab your audience’s attention and ensure they retain important details. 

Effective presentation skills fuse several communication styles, including visual design and verbal and nonverbal communication . You use these proficiencies together to successfully share a message. 

Audit your presentation skills with a trusted friend or coworker, asking for feedback on your body language, talking speed, and articulation. And always practice your speeches beforehand so you feel more familiar with the content and can put more energy into your stance and vocal tone.

4. Listening skills

While speaking and writing might immediately come to mind regarding strong communication skills , listening is essential to productive teamwork and decision-making. Strong listening skills express that you care and are retaining important information. And when people think others will actually listen to them, they might feel more confident sharing their opinions and ideas.

Improve your listening skills by first reflecting on how you currently use eye contact, what tends to distract you, and whether you have any bad habits like interrupting others. Then, practice saying less and listening more.

5. Feedback skills

Offering and receiving constructive criticism in a professional and growth-mindset manner contributes to both personal and team growth. Everyone has room to improve but can only do so if they receive valuable feedback.

Ensure your feedback delivery doesn’t obscure the message’s content. Good feedback empowers, and insensitive feedback diminishes trust and self-confidence. 

Emotional intelligence comes in handy when giving and receiving criticism. You can use your knowledge of your own emotions to better understand how others might take your input, adjusting how you share this information to fit each person. And understanding another person’s good intentions might make criticism feel more valuable and less personal.

Ready to push your work communication skills to their fullest potential? Here are six methods for polishing your business soft skills:

Know your audience: U nderstanding your listener is the first step toward effective communication. Tailor your message to suit the audience’s subject knowledge, interests, and motives. 

Adapt the message: Besides understanding your audience, switching your vocabulary, tone, and delivery for each situation prevents misunderstandings. Read the room to avoid crossing professional boundaries or leaving a bad impression.

This requires adaptability — an essential communication skill for leaders — since you’ll sometimes have to adjust on the spot. Maybe humor relaxes a tense client, but if a recently laid-off employee enters the room, making jokes probably isn’t appropriate.

Control your emotions: Emotional regulation is the ability to exert control over your emotions . This can help in professional communication settings, like when trying to remain professional during a coworker conflict or repressing frustration in front of a client.

You might also learn to regulate nerves so presentations go more smoothly or reduce anxiety triggers to enjoy a more worry-free workday. 

Prepare your delivery: Even natural communicators can benefit from prep work. Whether you’re prone to becoming tongue-tied or not, thinking through the intention and organization of your communication ensures clarity and coherence. You might practice a presentation with a friend or prepare answers to interview questions.

Handle conflict with respect: Conflict isn’t inherently negative. You aren’t always going to see eye-to-eye with everyone, and opposing perspectives can foster unexpected and innovative solutions .

Handling differences respectfully helps keep interactions constructive, preserves relationships, and sets a standard for good communication methods that will permeate throughout the company. 

Time your delivery: Good things come to those who wait — and communication is no different. Your message’s impact often depends on when you deliver it. If you need feedback on a report, asking a coworker during a chaotic day likely won’t yield high-quality criticism.

Small actions can have a significant impact. Improve your communication skills every day by following these tips: 

• Ask questions: Good questions serve many purposes: they clarify potential misunderstandings, encourage thoughtful answers, and express your engagement and interest.

Raise your hand: When it comes to public speaking , practice makes perfect . Take advantage of opportunities to present your ideas, like in meetings or during networking events .

Work on your writing: Every email , internal communication, and LinkedIn post is an opportunity to flex your written communication skills. Take the time to proofread and read your messages aloud to ensure you present yourself professionally and convincingly.

Show gratitude: A little thanks goes a long way . Use encouraging language to foster positivity, motivate your teammates , and build trusting relationships. 

Stand tall: Your body posture says a lot about how you’re feeling. Slouching might signal insecurity, while standing tall expresses confidence. Ask for feedback from friends and coworkers to gain an outsider's perspective on your body language, practicing adjustments as necessary. 

Put yourself out there: Each interaction is a chance to improve your communication skills. While networking expands your professional circle, you also gain practice adapting your communication style to different people and situations. Build a networking plan that includes conversing with someone new each week.

According to a LinkedIn hiring trends analysis, hard skills grab a hiring manager’s attention, but soft skills build their interest . Showcasing your job-specific technical skills means they know you can complete your tasks. But you must express your communication skills so they understand how you’ll fit in with the team and the overall company culture . Here are three ways of showing off your communication skills to a potential employer. 

1. On your resume

Your resume skills section is the most obvious place to include communication skills. Using action verbs and demonstrable business communication examples, you can also tie them into your work history. Here are a few examples: 

“Onboarded 15 new team members on company best practices and workflow programs, cutting onboarding costs by 15% and improving new employee productivity by 25%.” 

“Negotiated with key vendors, leading to an 18% decrease in yearly expenditures.”

“Authored a new system for receiving employee feedback, resulting in a 45% increase in employee satisfaction scores.”

2. On your cover letter

An effective cover letter doesn’t simply revisit your resume’s greatest hits. It’s your moment to highlight your most relevant achievements. 

Here’s how to work your communication skills into a cover letter: 

“My more than 10 years of experience as a project manager has shown me that open communication and collaboration are fundamental to a company’s success. In my most recent role at X Company, I led a diverse team of 15 people across four departments.

I created information-sharing systems, scheduled regular interdepartmental meet-ups, and led brainstorming sessions that encouraged diverse perspectives and creativity. And last year, our team’s streamlined communication style helped us complete all projects ahead of schedule and reduce expenditures by 10%.”

3. During the interview

An interview is your moment to demonstrate your communication skills in person. Practice answers to common interview questions , using language from the job description in your answers. This preparedness helps you organize your thoughts, respond to unexpected questions more calmly, and demonstrate your care for the position.

Communication is involved in nearly every workplace task. Your words, posture, and emotional intelligence skills all impact the success of your work. That’s why improving your business communication skills is so important.

Building up your arsenal of effective communication strategies means you can confidently enter every conversation knowing you’ve done the hard work.

Elevate your communication skills

Unlock the power of clear and persuasive communication. Our coaches can guide you to build strong relationships and succeed in both personal and professional life.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

9 types of listening: how to be a better communicator

7-38-55 rule of communication: how to use for negotiation, 20 marketing skills professionals should have in 2023, how to improve your listening skills for better communication, 10 essential negotiation skills to help you get what you want, the significance of written communication in the workplace, 8 tips to improve your public speaking skills, 15 human resources skills to help your resume stand out, 6 presentation skills and how to improve them, 8 hard and soft skills a project manager should have, why employee flexibility is the new workplace watchword, effective communication in relationships: 10 tips to improve it, relationship-building skills examples to practice at work, 10 essential business skills that make an impact on your career, hoping to stand out here are 5 employee strengths to improve, communication coach: what they are and how to find one, foster strong communication skills to enjoy professional success, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

• Platform overview
• Integrations
• Powered by AI
• BetterUp Lead™
• BetterUp Manage™
• BetterUp Care®
• Sales Performance
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Case studies
• ROI of BetterUp
• What is coaching?
• About Coaching
• Find your Coach
• Career Coaching
• Communication Coaching
• Personal Coaching
• News and Press
• Leadership Team
• Become a BetterUp Coach
• Content library
• BetterUp Briefing
• Center for Purpose & Performance
• Leadership Training
• Business Coaching
• Contact Support
• Contact Sales
• Privacy Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Trust & Security
• Cookie Preferences

How it works

For Business

Join Mind Tools

Related Articles

Confidentiality in the Workplace

The Communication Strategy Framework

Measurement, Evaluation and Feedback

Which Channel Should I Choose? Infographic

Creating Effective Internal Marketing Materials

Article • 8 min read

Communications Planning

Getting the right message across in the right way.

Written by the Mind Tools Content Team

Let's join Mindtools to have an ad free experience!

Have you ever received an email and felt the sender really wasn't thinking about what you needed to know or hear? Maybe you've attended a presentation that simply left you cold.

Or perhaps you've delivered communications yourself and realized, in retrospect, that you really hadn't got the measure of your audience and their needs.

Whether you need to communicate general day-to-day information or major news about important changes in your organization, the best communications start with good planning.

In this article – and with our free worksheet, below – we'll explore a five-step strategy for ensuring that your message reaches the right people, on the right channel, and leads to the outcome that you intended.

Download Worksheet

Five Steps for Effective Communications Planning

This strategy will help you to prepare an audience-focused communication plan that's sure to get your message heard.

It will put you in the shoes of your audience, so that you can establish key details, such as: what do they need to know, and what do they know already? What's their preferred way of receiving information? What will stop them listening to what you have to say? And how will you know that they have got the message?

Use these five steps to create a good communication plan for your company or project, and record it on your free worksheet .

Step 1. Understand Your Objectives

Be clear about your overall communication objectives. What do you want to achieve, when and why? Record your overall objectives in your plan.

Figure 1: Communications Planning Template

Step 2. understand your audiences.

Now identify and list your different audiences. This can initially seem quite difficult. So, for all but the simplest communications plan, it's good to use Stakeholder Analysis to identify who to communicate with and why.

Think of "audiences" as groups that you need to communicate with. Any one person may be a member of several audiences. For example, consider a project communications plan that has four audiences:

• All people working in New Jersey Office.
• All people working in Sydney Office.
• Customer Services Teams.
• HR Managers.

Joe is an HR manager working in Sydney and is, therefore, a member of two audiences, as is Sue who is a customer services team manager in New Jersey. Whereas Lee, an IT consultant in New Jersey, is a member of just one audience – "All people working in New Jersey Office."

Step 3. Choose the Right Channels

Once you have clarified your objectives and got a full understanding of the different audiences that you need to communicate with, it's time to choose the most appropriate channels for delivering your message.

Jot down all the possible communications channels you could use. Think broadly and creatively! You probably already use lots of great communications channels in your company, but some new ones may help you to get your message across. Here's a list to get you started:

• Instant Messaging .
• Virtual meetings .
• Notice boards.
• CEO briefing.
• Lunchtime meeting.
• Intranet article.
• Launch event.

Big corporate news often gets announced at big corporate events. But don't forget to use existing channels, such as staff newsletters, team meetings, and the intranet as well.

Using existing channels with the right message at the right time is an effective and familiar way to reach your audience.

Step 4. Planning Your Message

Now you've decided which channels to use, drill down into your communication objectives and clarify specific objectives for each audience. Start by thinking about the broadest audience groups first. In our example, the broadest audience might be "All people working in New Jersey Office" and "All people working in Sydney Office".

As you consider each audience in turn, ask the following questions:

• What does the audience need and want to know?
• When do we need to communicate?
• What is the regular or preferred channel for reaching this audience?
• For this specific audience and message, what is the most effective way to get your message across?

Several messages over time may be required to meet the objectives of each audience. Make sure the messages that you plan "add up" to meet the audience's objectives.

As you plan for each audience, remember that members of one audience may also be part of another audience, and so may receive several messages. Plan your communications so that individuals receive the right information and are not inundated, or worse, confused by the different messages that they receive.

Step 5. Monitor Effectiveness

It's good to get feedback on the communications that you have planned and implemented. Ask people from different audiences how you are doing. Check that they understand the messages you need them to hear.

By getting timely feedback, you can tune any future communications that you have planned to better meet people's needs or fill any gaps that you've missed.

Example Communications Plan

Let's consider planning the communications for the implementation of new security passes in your office. The overall objective is to, "Ensure a smooth transition from the current security pass system to the new one."

Who are the audiences and what do they need? First, consider the universal audience "All Office-Based Staff." Everyone will need to know that the change is scheduled, what to expect and when.

If people at each site need to receive different instructions about how to get a new pass and so on, each site needs to be listed as a separate audience ("Staff at site A" and so on) And what about the people who manage security? They are a further audience group as they have specific needs including more detailed information (possibly training) on how to manage the new system.

Now consider the specific messages for each audience. As well as receiving all-staff announcements about the new system, "Staff at site A" must know when and where at Site A to get their new pass photos taken. This information must be communicated several days ahead of time. The day before the changeover, people may need to be reminded to have their new passes at the ready, perhaps by leafleting everyone's desk throughout the office.

For more tools that can help you to plan and manage change, look at the articles on Stakeholder Analysis and Stakeholder Planning (if you haven't already done so.)

This is your second and last free resource

Enjoy unlimited access to Mind Tools

Discover more content

How to Guides

How to be a Communications Leader

Ensure That Your Communications Initiatives Are Professional and Successful

Developing a Communications Charter

Delivering Clear Messages

When to Speak Up

Speaking up Without Flipping Out

Company Town Hall Meetings

Communicating to a Large Audience

Add comment

Comments (2)

about 1 year

tenzin chodon

I got 46 which is not bad but still I have to improve.

Sign-up to our newsletter

Subscribing to the Mind Tools newsletter will keep you up-to-date with our latest updates and newest resources.

Subscribe now

Business Skills

Personal Development

Leadership and Management

Member Extras

Key Management Skills

Most Popular

Latest Updates

How to Keep Calm in a Crisis

Essential Self-Care for Women Leaders

Mind Tools Store

About Mind Tools Content

Discover something new today

Level 5 leadership.

Becoming an exceptional leader

Leadership Versus Management

Examining the Key Differences and the Strengths of Management and Leadership

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?

Boosting Your People Skills

Self-Assessment

What's Your Leadership Style?

Learn About the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Way You Like to Lead

Recommended for you

Five golden rules for setting great new year career goals infographic.

Infographic Transcript

Infographic

Business Operations and Process Management

Strategy Tools

Customer Service

Business Ethics and Values

Handling Information and Data

Project Management

Knowledge Management

Self-Development and Goal Setting

Time Management

Presentation Skills

Learning Skills

Career Skills

Communication Skills

Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence

Working With Others

Difficult Conversations

Creativity Tools

Self-Management

Work-Life Balance

Stress Management and Wellbeing

Women in Leadership

Coaching and Mentoring

Change Management

Team Management

Managing Conflict

Delegation and Empowerment

Performance Management

Leadership Skills

Developing Your Team

Talent Management

Problem Solving

Decision Making

Member Podcast

Member Newsletter

Introducing the Management Skills Framework

Transparent Communication

Social Sensitivity

Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation

Team Goal Setting

Recognition

Inclusivity

Active Listening

• View Programs
• Take our Program Quiz
• Online BBA Degree Program
• > Specialization in Artificial Intelligence
• > Specialization in Business Analytics
• > Specialization in Digital Marketing
• > Specialization in Entrepreneurship
• Online BBA Top-Up Program
• Associate of Applied Science in Business (AAS)
• Online MS Degree Programs
• > MS in Data Analytics
• > MS in Digital Transformation
• > MS in Entrepreneurship
• Online MBA Degree Program
• > Specialization in Cybersecurity
• > Specialization in E-Commerce
• > Specialization in Fintech & Blockchain
• > Specialization in International Business
• > Specialization in Sustainability
• Undergraduate Certificates
• Graduate Certificates
• Undergraduate Courses
• Graduate Courses
• Apply to Nexford
• Transfer to Nexford
• Explore Education Partners
• Scholarships
• For Organizations
• Career Coalition
• Our Faculty
• Accreditation
• Academic Model
• Learning Experience
• Support Services
• Career Services
• Learner Stories
• Book Consultation
• Careers - We're Hiring!

Importance Of Effective Communication In An Organization 2024

Effective communication is vital in all forms of life and of course even more vitally across all businesses and industries. If you don't run a tight ship then you can fall foul of confusion in the ranks.

Apple and Microsoft became highly successful companies not just because they had a great product to sell that people wanted or required, but also because their employees were all pulling in the same direction. This goal-oriented outlook came by way of effective communication from the top down, but also across with leaders of teams making sure that everyone knew what they had to do, and when it needed to be done by.

If open communication be it written or oral within a workplace is encouraged, a more cohesive and effective team will emerge, and this will show up on the bottom line. Good communication within a team also tends to build trust and boost employee morale. When managers communicate effectively, employees feel that they are well informed of the company’s direction and vision, there is no misunderstanding, and they will feel more secure within their role. 

Importance of Effective Communication in An Organization 

1. it boosts growth .

Effective communication is important when it comes to developing a better company culture and the growth and plays a pivotal role in driving growth and success in any setting, be it within a business, a team, or even personal relationships. When individuals are able to communicate their thoughts, ideas, and goals clearly and concisely, it leads to increased understanding, collaboration, and productivity. By fostering open dialogue, active listening, and clear messaging, effective communication paves the way for growth, innovation, and success.

2. It increases innovation

Effective communication plays a vital role in fostering innovation within an organization and can be achieved via idea sharing and collaboration, active listening and feedback, cross-functional communication, and transparent and inclusive communication.

On the subject of idea sharing and collaboration, when individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions, it creates a fertile ground for innovation.

With regards to active listening and feedback, when individuals actively listen to others' ideas and provide constructive feedback, it promotes a culture of mutual respect and encourages the free exchange of ideas. Constructive feedback helps refine and strengthen innovative concepts, leading to improved outcomes.

On the subject of cross-functional communication, effective communication facilitates collaboration across departments, teams, and disciplines, enabling the cross-pollination of ideas. By breaking down silos and encouraging interdisciplinary communication, organizations can leverage diverse skill sets and knowledge, resulting in fresh insights and breakthrough innovations.

Last but not least, transparent and inclusive communication can facilitate collaboration across departments, teams, and disciplines, enabling the cross-pollination of ideas. By breaking down silos and encouraging interdisciplinary communication, organizations can leverage diverse skill sets and knowledge, resulting in fresh insights and breakthrough innovations.

3. It improves productivity

Effective communication has a significant impact on productivity in the workplace. When communication is clear and concise, employees have a better understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and objectives. Clear communication eliminates confusion and ambiguity, enabling employees to prioritize their tasks and work efficiently towards specific goals. The end result of all that? You got it. Improved productivity.

4. It increases efficiency

Effective communication plays a key role in increasing efficiency within an organization. There are several ways in which it contributes to improved efficiency. Experts maintain that it can come via clear instructions and expectations, more streamlined processes, timely information sharing, regular feedback and performance evaluation, effective collaboration and teamwork, and better utilization of technology. By eliminating misunderstandings, facilitating quick decision-making, promoting teamwork, and leveraging technology, efficient communication optimizes workflows and resource utilization, leading to improved overall efficiency within the organization

Learn how to develop the most in-demand skills for your future career!

Discover how you can acquire the most in-demand skills with our free report, and open the doors to a successful career. 

5. It increases loyalty

Effective communication plays a crucial role in fostering employee loyalty within an organization. When employees feel that their voices are heard, opinions are valued, and information is transparently shared, they develop a sense of trust and belonging. Open and honest communication from leaders and managers helps establish a culture of transparency and integrity, creating an environment where employees feel comfortable expressing their concerns, ideas, and feedback. By actively listening to their employees, leaders can address their needs and provide support, which in turn boosts morale and loyalty.

6. It increases employee engagement

Effective communication plays a vital role in increasing employee engagement within an organization and there are several ways to make employees more involved. These can be open and transparent communication, two-way communication, recognition and feedback, making sure that levels of expectation are clearly set out, empowerment and autonomy is provided to all levels of employees, and teams are regularly communicated to and encouraged to collaborate on tasks. Effective communication that is open, transparent, two-way, and focused on recognition, feedback, clarity, empowerment, growth, and collaboration contributes to increased employee engagement.

7. It resolves problems

Effective communication serves as a powerful tool in resolving work problems and conflicts. When faced with challenges or disagreements, open and honest communication allows individuals to express their concerns, perspectives, and emotions in an early and respectful manner. By actively listening to each other, seeking to understand different viewpoints, and engaging in constructive dialogue, parties involved can find common ground and work towards a mutually beneficial resolution. Clear communication helps clarify misunderstandings, addresses underlying issues, and prevents conflicts from escalating further.

8. It enhances skills

Effective communication plays a significant role in enhancing skills in various areas. There are many ways that it can contribute to skills development and those include; greater clarity and articulation, an increase in active listening, greater incidences of nonverbal communication, better empathy and rapport-building, advanced conflict resolution and negotiation, and more effective written communication. Overall, effective communication enhances various skills, including clarity and articulation, active listening, nonverbal communication, empathy, conflict resolution, negotiation, presentation, and written communication. By consciously practicing and refining these skills, individuals can become more effective communicators, leading to improved personal and professional growth.

Conclusion 

Communication is key in business, and those organizations that have been able to master this crucial art of open and honest channels of communication between leaders and employees, and vice versa, will be best placed to reap all of the benefits. With open, honest and effective communication organizations will be able to mitigate conflict, increase employee engagement, improved productivity, a healthy workplace culture, boosted employee satisfaction, and increased innovation. 

Can being a great communicator be taught? You bet it can! Anyone can be a great communicator with training and practice and as an added bonus, it can make you a better leaders. The best communicators and leaders spend time developing, practicing and incorporating feedback into their communication efforts. These skills can be honed by doing a leadership management and teams course , and/or a leadership and organizational development course from a leading online university that offers MBA and BBA programs. 

Download our brand new free report on how you can acquire the most important skills for becoming a more successful communicator and effective leader.

Looking to Improve your Workplace Communication Skills?

Discover how you can acquire the most important workplace communication skills with our free report below.

Download the free report  now and find out how you can do this and stay ahead of the competition!

Also, why not consider our excellent selection of BBA and MBA degrees, including our specializations in  International Business , AI ,   Ecommerce and more.

Common types of communication in the workplace

Experts maintain that there are four common types of communication in the workplace, namely verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual. Verbal, or oral communication among employees and managers plays an important part because at its core it means using speech to share information with other people. 

Verbal communication: Verbal communication involves the use of spoken words, tone of voice, and effective listening. It helps in resolving misunderstandings by providing clarity and immediate feedback. Through face-to-face conversations, phone calls, or video conferences, individuals can express their thoughts, ask questions, and seek clarification in real-time, ensuring clear understanding and reducing the chances of misinterpretation.

Nonverbal communication: Nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, and gestures convey important information in workplace interactions. Paying attention to nonverbal cues helps individuals understand emotions, attitudes, and intentions, which can aid in resolving communication problems. For example, observing signs of frustration or confusion allows others to respond appropriately and offer support or clarification.

Written communication: Written communication, including emails, memos, reports, and documentation, provides a clear and permanent record of information. It helps overcome communication problems by ensuring that details are accurately conveyed, allowing individuals to refer back to messages for reference or clarification. Written communication also provides time for thoughtful reflection and revision, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings caused by hasty or impulsive responses.

Visual communication: Visual aids such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and presentations can enhance understanding and overcome communication barriers. Visual communication simplifies complex information, making it easier to grasp and remember. Visuals can be especially useful when dealing with diverse audiences or when language barriers exist, as they transcend linguistic differences and convey information in a universally understandable manner.

How to develop communication skills as a manager

Having effective management communication and an effective communication strategy can help improve many aspects of a business. There are many ways you can improve management communication in the workplace, as every company is different. Some of the best practice tips on how managers can develop and improve their management communication skills are, work on writing skills, create an open channel for communication, listen and be receptive, involve your team and be transparent, and have a primary channel of communication. 

How to develop communication skills between managers and employees at work

It goes without saying that that the importance of communication between managers and employees is one of the most important factors of any successful business. Clear and effective communication helps ensure everyone is on the same page regarding objectives, direction, and expectations. It means everyone knows where they stand. Experts maintain that there are six ways to improve communication between managers and employees and those are, meet weekly, have regular 1-2-1s, keep employees in the loop, have an open door policy with managers, take advantage of tools that improve communication, and ask for and give feedback.

How to improve communication skills of employees working remotely

There is an expression that goes, "out of sight, out of mind." When managers are dealing with employees that are not in an office environment daily, communication levels and frequency of communication can slip. But this need not be the case. Fortunately, there are examples you can look to for inspiration and guidance as you adapt to the dynamics of managing remote working teams. Good communication skills means saying good morning either on a video or via a message in Teams, engaging in casual chit chat, and trying to meet offline when possible. Be proactive with communication and don't just wait for planned meetings, and respect time differences.  

Challenges of communication training for employees

Communication is a vital skill for any trainer, whether delivering online or in-person sessions, facilitating group activities, or providing feedback. However, lack of communication and communication challenges and barriers can arise in any training scenario, affecting the quality of learning outcomes and the satisfaction of the participants. But all hope is not lost. There are ways to address these issues and ensure effective communication with training stakeholders. Identify the audience, choose the right mode of training that suits attendees, use clear and concise language, handle difficult situations, and finally evaluate and improve by using surveys, tests, observations, or feedback forms, to measure the effectiveness and impact of your communication on your audience's learning outcomes and satisfaction.

Should you invest in a leadership and communication training course for your staff?

In short, the answer is yes. The right leadership and communication development program can improve productivity, employee retention, engagement levels, corporate culture, and internal hiring. More and more studies are showing that effective communication and communication-related skills amongst employees contribute to some of an organization’s most important KPIs, including profitability, productivity, and client engagement. Whilst on the subject of leadership training, it has been proven that leadership development boosts employee engagement, increases the organization's ability to deal with gaps in the talent pipeline, and reduces the headaches and costs associated with turnover. 

What are the best communication training programs?

People learn in different ways and in accordance with their own timeframes. This is why organizations should take these things and more into account before settling on training programs that are right for your organization. Although we're biased, at Nexford, we have a broad range of online courses for you to take, whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, data analytics and much more.

Also, why not consider our excellent selection of BBA and MBA degrees, including our specializations in International Business , AI ,   Ecommerce and more.

Known for strategy and attention to detail

Joe has more than 10 years of marketing experience, working within the public sector, client-side, and agency side.

He is passionate about using data and customer insights to improve marketing performance.

Join our newsletter and be the first to receive news about our programs, events and articles.

8 Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills

Your guide to establishing better communication habits for success in the workplace.

Mary Sharp Emerson

A leader’s ability to communicate clearly and effectively with employees, within teams, and across the organization is one of the foundations of a successful business.

And in today’s complex and quickly evolving business environment, with hundreds of different communication tools, fully or partially remote teams, and even multicultural teams spanning multiple time zones, effective communication has never been more important — or more challenging.

Thus, the ability to communicate might be a manager’s most critical skill. 

The good news is that these skills can be learned and even mastered. 

These eight tips can help you maximize your communication skills for the success of your organization and your career.

1. Be clear and concise

Communication is primarily about word choice. And when it comes to word choice, less is more.

The key to powerful and persuasive communication — whether written or spoken — is clarity and, when possible, brevity. 

Before engaging in any form of communication, define your goals and your audience. 

Outlining carefully and explicitly what you want to convey and why will help ensure that you include all necessary information. It will also help you eliminate irrelevant details. 

Avoid unnecessary words and overly flowery language, which can distract from your message.

And while repetition may be necessary in some cases, be sure to use it carefully and sparingly. Repeating your message can ensure that your audience receives it, but too much repetition can cause them to tune you out entirely. 

2. Prepare ahead of time

Know what you are going to say and how you are going to say before you begin any type of communication.

However, being prepared means more than just practicing a presentation. 

Preparation also involves thinking about the entirety of the communication, from start to finish. Research the information you may need to support your message. Consider how you will respond to questions and criticisms. Try to anticipate the unexpected.

Before a performance review, for instance, prepare a list of concrete examples of your employee’s behavior to support your evaluation.

Before engaging in a salary or promotion negotiation, know exactly what you want. Be ready to discuss ranges and potential compromises; know what you are willing to accept and what you aren’t. And have on hand specific details to support your case, such as relevant salaries for your position and your location (but be sure that your research is based on publicly available information, not company gossip or anecdotal evidence). 

Before entering into any conversation, brainstorm potential questions, requests for additional information or clarification, and disagreements so you are ready to address them calmly and clearly.

3. Be mindful of nonverbal communication

Our facial expressions, gestures, and body language can, and often do, say more than our words. 

Nonverbal cues can have between 65 and 93 percent more impact than the spoken word. And we are more likely to believe the nonverbal signals over spoken words if the two are in disagreement. 

Leaders must be especially adept at reading nonverbal cues. 

Employees who may be unwilling to voice disagreements or concerns, for instance, may show their discomfort through crossed arms or an unwillingness to make eye contact. If you are aware of others’ body language, you may be able to adjust your communication tactics appropriately.

At the same time, leaders must also be able to control their own nonverbal communications. 

Your nonverbal cues must, at all times, support your message. At best, conflicting verbal and nonverbal communication can cause confusion. At worst, it can undermine your message and your team’s confidence in you, your organization, and even in themselves. 

4. Watch your tone

How you say something can be just as important as what you say. As with other nonverbal cues, your tone can add power and emphasis to your message, or it can undermine it entirely.

Tone can be an especially important factor in workplace disagreements and conflict. A well-chosen word with a positive connotation creates good will and trust. A poorly chosen word with unclear or negative connotations can quickly lead to misunderstanding. 

When speaking, tone includes volume, projection, and intonation as well as word choice. In real time, it can be challenging to control tone to ensure that it matches your intent. But being mindful of your tone will enable you to alter it appropriately if a communication seems to be going in the wrong direction.

Tone can be easier to control when writing. Be sure to read your communication once, even twice, while thinking about tone as well as message. You may even want to read it out loud or ask a trusted colleague to read it over, if doing so does not breach confidentiality. 

And when engaging in a heated dialogue over email or other written medium, don’t be too hasty in your replies. 

If at all possible, write out your response but then wait for a day or two to send it. In many cases, re-reading your message after your emotions have cooled allows you to moderate your tone in a way that is less likely to escalate the conflict.

Browse our Communication programs.

5. Practice active listening

Communication nearly always involves two or more individuals.

Therefore, listening is just as important as speaking when it comes to communicating successfully. But listening can be more challenging than we realize. 

In her blog post Mastering the Basics of Communication , communication expert Marjorie North notes that we only hear about half of what the other person says during any given conversation. 

The goal of active listening is to ensure that you hear not just the words the person is saying, but the entire message. Some tips for active listening include:

• Giving the speaker your full and undivided attention
• Clearing your mind of distractions, judgements, and counter-arguments. 
• Avoiding the temptation to interrupt with your own thoughts.
• Showing open, positive body language to keep your mind focused and to show the speaker that you are really listening
• Rephrase or paraphrase what you’ve heard when making your reply
• Ask open ended questions designed to elicit additional information

6. Build your emotional intelligence

Communication is built upon a foundation of emotional intelligence. Simply put, you cannot communicate effectively with others until you can assess and understand your own feelings. 

“If you’re aware of your own emotions and the behaviors they trigger, you can begin to manage these emotions and behaviors,” says Margaret Andrews in her post, How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence .

Leaders with a high level of emotional intelligence will naturally find it easier to engage in active listening, maintain appropriate tone, and use positive body language, for example.  

Understanding and managing your own emotions is only part of emotional intelligence. The other part — equally important for effective communication — is empathy for others.

Empathizing with an employee can, for example, make a difficult conversation easier. 

You may still have to deliver bad news, but (actively) listening to their perspective and showing that you understand their feelings can go a long way toward smoothing hurt feelings or avoiding misunderstandings.

7. Develop a workplace communication strategy

Today’s workplace is a constant flow of information across a wide variety of formats. Every single communication must be understood in the context of that larger flow of information.

Even the most effective communicator may find it difficult to get their message across without a workplace communication strategy.

A communication strategy is the framework within which your business conveys and receives information. It can — and should — outline how and what you communicate to customers and clients, stakeholders, and managers and employees. 

Starting most broadly, your strategy should incorporate who gets what message and when. This ensures that everyone receives the correct information at the right time. 

It can be as detailed as how you communicate, including defining the type of tools you use for which information. For example, you may define when it’s appropriate to use a group chat for the entire team or organization or when a meeting should have been summarized in an email instead. 

Creating basic guidelines like this can streamline the flow of information. It will help ensure that everyone gets the details they need and that important knowledge isn’t overwhelmed by extraneous minutia. 

8. Create a positive organizational culture

The corporate culture in which you are communicating also plays a vital role in effective communication. 

In a positive work environment — one founded on transparency, trust, empathy, and open dialogue — communication in general will be easier and more effective. 

Employees will be more receptive to hearing their manager’s message if they trust that manager. And managers will find it easier to create buy-in and even offer constructive criticism if they encourage their employees to speak up, offer suggestions, and even offer constructive criticisms of their own. 

“The most dangerous organization is a silent one,” says Lorne Rubis in a blog post, Six Tips for Building a Better Workplace Culture . Communication, in both directions, can only be effective in a culture that is built on trust and a foundation of psychological safety.

Authoritative managers who refuse to share information, aren’t open to suggestions, and refuse to admit mistakes and accept criticism are likely to find their suggestions and criticisms met with defensiveness or even ignored altogether. 

Without that foundation of trust and transparency, even the smallest communication can be misconstrued and lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary conflict.

Communicating with co-workers and employees is always going to present challenges. There will always be misunderstandings and miscommunications that must be resolved and unfortunately, corporate messages aren’t always what we want to hear, especially during difficult times.

But building and mastering effective communication skills will make your job easier as a leader, even during difficult conversations. Taking the time to build these skills will certainly be time well-spent. 

Want to build your skills? Find the program that’s right for you.

Browse all Professional & Executive Development programs.

About the Author

Digital Content Producer

Emerson is a Digital Content Producer at Harvard DCE. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and Yale University and started her career as an international affairs analyst. She is an avid triathlete and has completed three Ironman triathlons, as well as the Boston Marathon.

Harvard Professional Development Participant Success Stories

Read about how these skilled professionals used the knowledge and skills they learned in a Harvard PDP to further their career development.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

• Business Essentials
• Leadership & Management
• Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Digital Transformation
• Finance & Accounting
• Business in Society
• For Organizations
• Support Portal
• Media Coverage
• Founding Donors
• Leadership Team

• Harvard Business School →
• HBS Online →
• Business Insights →

Business Insights

Harvard Business School Online's Business Insights Blog provides the career insights you need to achieve your goals and gain confidence in your business skills.

• Career Development
• Communication
• Decision-Making
• Earning Your MBA
• Negotiation
• News & Events
• Productivity
• Staff Spotlight
• Student Profiles
• Work-Life Balance
• AI Essentials for Business
• Alternative Investments
• Business Analytics
• Business Strategy
• Business and Climate Change
• Creating Brand Value
• Design Thinking and Innovation
• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Disruptive Strategy
• Economics for Managers
• Entrepreneurial Marketing
• Entrepreneurship Essentials
• Financial Accounting
• Global Business
• Launching Tech Ventures
• Leadership Principles
• Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
• Leading Change and Organizational Renewal
• Leading with Finance
• Management Essentials
• Negotiation Mastery
• Organizational Leadership
• Power and Influence for Positive Impact
• Strategic Financial Analysis
• Strategy Execution
• Sustainable Business Strategy
• Sustainable Investing
• Winning with Digital Platforms

Communicating Direction to Your Organization: 5 Dimensions to Consider

• 07 Feb 2023

As an organizational leader , you’re responsible for setting your firm’s direction. Aligning its vision, mission, strategy, and identity is critical for contextualizing and planning a purposeful trajectory.

Yet communicating organizational direction is just as important as planning it. According to research by employee communication firm Haiilo, three-quarters of employees rank effective communication as the most important leadership attribute. Less than one-third, however, believe their organizations’ leaders communicate effectively.

In the online course Organizational Leadership , Harvard Business School Professors Anthony Mayo and Joshua Margolis break down leaders’ responsibilities, including setting direction and effectively communicating it to teams.

“Formulating your organization’s direction in writing is a crucial first step for you to figure out where the organization is headed,” Mayo says in the course. “Communicating it to others is how you bring that direction to life.”

Access your free e-book today.

What Is Organizational Communication?

Broadly, the term organizational communication describes how a firm’s information is shared internally and externally.

Examples of internal organizational communication include:

• Newsletters
• All-staff or team-specific meetings
• Messaging platforms
• One-on-one meetings
• Casual in-office interactions, such as a watercooler chat

Examples of external organizational communication include:

• Press releases
• Social media posts
• Check-in calls with clients
• Meetings with stakeholders

Communicating Organizational Direction Internally

When carried out internally, organizational communication is the process of relaying your firm’s direction to your team.

Whether you’re the CEO or a new manager, you must be adept at communicating direction to ensure your team members are aligned and motivated.

When communicating direction, you should be:

• Clear: Will people understand the direction?
• Compelling: Will people be motivated by and care about the direction?
• Concise: Is the direction succinct enough to be easily internalized?

One challenge of leading at scale is that you likely won’t be able to speak to each employee directly—which is why effective communication is critical.

“Leading at scale and scope requires you to treat communication as a tool to reach out to people, captivate heads, and move hearts, so those you’re leading understand your actions and goals,” Margolis says in Organizational Leadership. “And, perhaps more importantly, so they understand where they fit and why their work matters.”

Here are the five dimensions of communicating organizational direction outlined in Organizational Leadership to help you become a more effective leader .

Related: 8 Essential Leadership Communication Skills

The 5 Dimensions of Communicating Direction

1. know your audience.

To communicate effectively, you must first define your audience. For example, how you speak to other managers may differ from how you speak to your entire organization and stakeholders.

Consider your audience’s perspective, how much they already know about your organization’s direction, what factors matter most to them, and any questions or concerns they may have.

2. Cater the Content

Once you’ve determined your audience and understand what’s important to them, cater your communication’s content to fit that.

For example, imagine you’re trying to communicate that your company is entering a new market. When letting stakeholders know about this direction, you may prioritize the financial reasoning behind the decision and the goals you expect your firm to reach.

When communicating the same information to your employees, however, you may emphasize how the change will impact their daily work and how each person’s tasks will help the organization reach new goals.

Catering your communication to each audience shows you care about them and understand what they value and need to succeed.

Related: How to Communicate Organizational Change: 4 Steps

3. Align on Purpose

The next dimension seems intuitive but can be overlooked: Ensure you know the communication’s purpose for each audience. To do so, ask yourself: What do I hope to achieve by communicating this content to this group of people?

“Are you seeking to inform, solicit input, gain approval, galvanize action, or some combination of these?” Margolis asks in Organizational Leadership .

Remember that the purpose may differ between audiences; for instance, gaining input and approval from shareholders versus informing and motivating employees.

4. Design the Process

The fourth dimension of communication is logistical in nature. Once you know your message’s purpose, audience, and content, you need to design the communication process.

• Timing: When will you deliver this communication?
• Frequency: Is this communication a one-time or recurring event? If it’s recurring, how often will you provide updates?
• Channel: What channel will you use to communicate? For instance, addressing the company at an in-person all-staff meeting may be received differently than sending a company-wide email. If you’re aiming for a more casual approach, a note in your company’s messaging platform may do the trick.
• Pattern: Who should deliver the information? Is it more appropriate for every employee to receive the communication at an all-staff meeting or from their direct manager?

There isn’t one correct way to design the communication process; it depends on your organization’s dynamics, your role, and the information you want to communicate to each audience.

5. Curate Tone and Style

Finally, you need to deliver the message with deliberate tone and style choices. This step works in tandem with your message’s content. If you don’t deliver the message with the proper tone and style, the content won’t have its intended impact.

In Organizational Leadership, Mayo and Margolis describe the six attributes of tone and style, known as the “six C’s”:

• Compassion: Do you show your audience you care about their perspectives?
• Clarity: Do you communicate clearly to someone unfamiliar with the message?
• Conciseness: Is the message short enough to be internalized?
• Connection: Do you make an emotional connection with your audience?
• Conviction: Do you demonstrate your commitment to the good of the organization?
• Courage: Do you demonstrate confidence in your ability to lead through uncertainty?

“To be heard, you must consider how your audience experiences you,” Margolis says in the course. “You may have heard the phrase ‘it’s not what you say but how you say it’ to describe the resonance of communication.”

These considerations are particularly important in cases of extreme change or crisis ; your team needs to know that you’re attuned to their needs and they can trust you to lead the organization through turbulent times.

Maintaining the Big Picture

When communicating organizational direction using the five dimensions, Mayo recommends not focusing too heavily on one of them.

“You may be tempted to focus predominantly on the content of your communication,” Mayo says in Organizational Leadership. “Make no mistake: The content is very important. But, as you work out the content, think about the other four dimensions. These will be as important for the impact you have and, it turns out, also shape the content.”

Communicating direction is a dynamic responsibility—circumstances constantly change. It requires an evolving strategy and consistent messaging as elements shift.

Guided by the five dimensions, you can navigate the changing business landscape and effectively communicate direction to your organization.

Are you interested in elevating your leadership skills? Explore Organizational Leadership —one of our online leadership and management courses —and learn how to communicate direction and lead at scale.

About the Author