EFFECTIVE VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE

Effective Verbal Communication in the Workplace



Effective Verbal Communication in the Workplace

Effective communication is an essential component of organizational success whether it is at the interpersonal, intergroup, organizational, or external levels. Although all of us have been communicating with others since our infancy, the process of transmitting information from an individual or group to another is a very complex process with many sources of potential error. There are a wide number of sources of noise or interference that can enter into the communication process. This can occur when people know each other very well and should understand the sources of error. In a work setting, it is even more common since interactions involve people who not only do not have years of experience with each other, but communication is complicated by the complex and often conflicting relationships that exist at work.

Inside and outside the workplace, communications in management exist. If you are breathing, you are a manager because everyone manages their own lives in which we communicate with ourselves about what choices and decisions we should make. Communication is a part of our everyday life that occurs whether we intend to or not. Every individual has a particular style of communicating. These styles include both verbal and non-verbal approaches, except in unfortunate circumstances where a person is literally incapable of verbally communicating. With so many styles of communication and several different personalities, it is easy to have discrepancies and misunderstandings that result in communication.

These products of poor communication create tension and hostility that could result in severed relationships and uncompleted goals. Poor communication can be fatal to the success of a business or organization. "Good communication ensures individuals know what is expected of them and ensures coordination within the organization" (Ball, 2003). "At the root of a large number of organizational problems is poor communication. Effective communication is an essential component of organizational success" (Wertheim, 1991). For these reasons, it is crucial for a manager to possess both effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills with his or her employees.

"Every time we open our mouths to speak, we are taking a leap of faith--faith that what we say will be understood by our listeners more or less as we mean it" (Tannen, 1994). When verbally communicating with an employee, a manager should always be clear and precise in relaying tasks and assignments, in giving guidelines, and in giving feedback on an employee's performance.

To be effective in verbal communication, a manager must first be aware of communication barriers before approaching an employee. Communication barriers are disadvantages of verbally communicating, such as noise, hearsay, and a choice of words, assumptions, and stereotyping, that can further contribute to misunderstandings.

A manager's responsibilities should include the ability to recognize these barriers and ensure that they are not included in the communication process. For example, if a manager needs to talk to an employee about his or her work performance, that manager needs to recognize if there are any loud or ...