5 reasons why effective communication is crucial in business and how you can achieve it

Whether you are a business leader, manager or aspiring entrepreneur, ensuring that you have effective communication skills could mean the difference between your business thriving or struggling to make ends meet. 

A successful business manager must be able to delegate tasks, share new ideas and solutions and assess any challenges that their business may face. However, none of the above are doable without the ability to communicate with others. 

Keep reading to find out what steps you can take to master these vital areas of expertise, plus the top five reasons why you need to do so in the first place!

What steps can you take to improve your communication skills?

Acquiring good communication skills is not as simple as some are led to believe. There are, in fact, several different elements to effective communication in business management. 

You need to be able to communicate through a range of channels including face-to face, via email, in writing, and so on. You also need to be able to communicate with employees, clients, board members and senior management. Plus, and arguably the most important aspect, you need to know how to listen. 

Fortunately, it is never too late to learn good communication and other key management skills. You just need to be willing to put in the effort to do so.

There are several actions that you can take to improve your communication skills as a manger.

The first, and arguably the most important step, is to undertake any necessary qualifications that can help you to build these skills. 

Now, before you worry about taking on a task of this magnitude and stressing about how you will be able to study and work in your current position, you should be made aware of the benefits of an online MSc Business and Management degree. Click here to learn more.

If you choose to undertake this degree program, you can expect to learn how to master your communication skills, as well as other key abilities including:

• Decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Presentation skills 
• Critical analysis 
• Technical skills 

This program is 100% online and can be completed in as little as two years. As you will be distance learning, the course is flexible and can be fitted around your current work and family commitments. 

Other ways you can improve your communication skills include:

• Actively listening to others 
• Asking your friends, family and colleagues about areas where they feel you struggle to communicate effectively 
• Looking into non-verbal communication techniques
• Focusing on self-awareness
• Working on honing your empathy skills 

Why is communication in business management so important? 

1. Effective communication can improve employee performance 

All managers and business leaders want to ensure that they get the very best out of their employees, but unfortunately this is easier said than done.

Many managers fall into the trap of micromanaging their team, leading to employees feeling untrusted and unmotivated. This will have an instant knock-on effect on employee performance, resulting in a less productive and less content workforce. 

Not what you want at all. 

However, if you are able to effectively communicate with your employees in a clear and concise way, you will find that your team performs better and are more driven to succeed. 

2. Effective communication can help resolve conflict 

As a manger, being able to resolve conflict is a vital skill. Even the closest team of employees will experience problems or issues working together at some point in their working lives. 

Therefore, you need to ensure that you know how to deal with this conflict as quickly and effectively as possible, as ongoing unresolved issues can lead to poor performance and even employees choosing to leave their jobs. 

3. Effective communication helps to build teams 

Building teams within a workplace is vital if you want your business to thrive. However, this is no simple feat and requires excellent communication skills on behalf of the manager or business leader. 

For teams to work effectively, you need to be able to communicate clear employee roles, set achievable goals and express guidelines or rules that your teams must follow. 

That being said, once a strong team has been created, you will experience increased employee morale, increased employee performance and in turn, improved productivity levels. 

4. Effective communication allows for a globalised workplace

In today’s increasingly global working environment, it is crucial that managers are able to communicate effectively with a multicultural and multinational workforce. 

In order to do this, you need to be able devise new communication strategies so that you can successfully convey the goals and objectives of your company to those of different nationalities. 

5. Effective communication can help improve your problem-solving skills

Effective communication and problem-solving skills go hand in hand and are other key attributes that a successful leader or manager must have. If you have one, you are likely to have the other. 

If you have employees who are struggling, they will naturally look to their manager for guidance and you need to be able to help them to solve their workplace problems. 

Furthermore, you need to be able to act with discretion and know the right way to communicate with them to avoid further issues or feelings of mistrust. 

Quick tips for instantly improved communication 

• Speak clearly and concisely
• Aim to get to your point as quickly as possible 
• Use positive language. Encouragement will always get better results than criticism 
• Organise your thoughts to avoid confusion or duplication 
• Do not interrupt others 
• Focus on hard facts rather than flimsy statements or promises 

Although many managers believe themselves to be successful communicators without any formal training or personal effort, few actually are. 

Communication is a skill like any other, one that needs to be taught, practiced and nurtured. There is no shame in admitting that you need help to master this vital area of expertise. 

It is definitely better to accept that you need professional help to hone your management skills rather than to continue ineffectively communicating with your colleagues, clients and employees alike.