The Importance of Communication in the Management Process

The Importance of Communication in the Management Process

Most experts agree that good communication skills are essential to be successful in business. Employees at all levels within an organization need to be effective communicators. However, this skill is most important to the success of managers. As Robert Kent, the former dean of Harvard Business School has said, “In business, communication is everything” (Blalock, 2005, para. 3). Without a doubt, good communication skills are directly tied to increased responsibilities and promotions within the organization. Upper-level managers are always on the lookout for individuals who can communicate effectively and those able to stand up and speak in front of a group of people without fear. As Whetten and Cameron state in their book, Developing Management Skills, “Surveys have consistently shown that the ability to effectively communicate face to face is the characteristic judged by managers to be the most critical in determining promotability” (Whetten & Cameron, 2007, p. 243).

Managers communicate every day. Through the use many channels, leaders communicate both internally and externally through e-mail, in face-to-face conversations, and oftentimes by not saying anything through body language. It has been said that in business, communication is everything. Research estimates that managers spend 75% to 80% of their time engaged in some form of communication (Blalock, 2005). The purpose of this paper is to highlight how managers at all levels can use communication skills to improve their staffs, improve productivity and ultimately earn the promotions he or she deserves in their organization.

Written Communication Skills

Managers use written communication daily. However, not all managers are effective in their written communications. Research has proven that American businesses spend in excess of three-billion dollars annually just to train their employees to write effectively (Blalock, 2005). According to the National Commission on Writing, people who cannot write or communicate cannot find a job, and if they are currently working, they will not last long enough to be considered for a promotion. Another fact to consider is that 80% of companies assess writing skills during the hiring process (Blalock, 2005). The need for clear concise writing is not limited to the private enterprises. The United States Military spends a great deal of time training its men and women to write effectively. From the lowest private, new to the Army organization, to the seasoned veteran colonel attending the War College all soldiers are taught how to write effectively; the Army way. The bottom line for effective writing according to the Army is that all written correspondence transmits a clear message in a single, rapid reading, and is generally free of errors in grammar, mechanics, and usage. Good writing is also concise,