Is Your Company Experiencing Poor Communication? Here’s How To Solve It
By Dr. Michael Burns
We can’t be surprised that companies are losing millions of dollars a year to ‘people problems,’ given the communication dead zone we live in. Our underdeveloped communication skills are the root of employee disengagement and lack of organizational commitment. So, what does this mean for business leaders? As it turns out, a lot.
The Corporate Crisis in Communication
Our communication deficits are costing businesses a great deal. We know that people aren’t motivated to work for people whom they perceive as treating them badly, so employees withdraw further. Currently, I don’t know many people who believe they’re being treated well at work, and most of the people I speak with don’t really care about what they do these days. The equation is simple: feeling uncared for + apathy + poor communication = checking out entirely.
So, of course, people are quietly quitting, fading out, and going numb mentally and intellectually at work. This means that business leaders have to work double time to retain employees and be successful in managing this corporate crisis.
The question is: Why are we surprised by this apathy? The writing has been on the walls for years. We have to feel and critically think to feel good about anything we do and we stopped doing this because communicating vulnerably and intentionally feels very hard. The intrinsic value we used to get from a hard day’s work has been lost because our relational and organizational connections are simply not as strong as they once were.
What’s inside
The Corporate Crisis in Communication
How to Fix Poor Communication at Work
Becoming Aware of Ourselves and Our Work Peers
How to Fix Poor Communication at Work
All of this underscores the crisis in communication we are in but also lights the path of how we can fix this. Until we start re-engaging with other humans and ourselves, this problem will continue and get worse. If we don’t have human communication, we don’t receive affirmation or support, and we definitely won’t feel any loyalty to an organization or the people we work with. And frankly, why should we if we feel like interchangeable ‘assets’ rather than valued humans? We can and need to learn how to be human again. We need to embrace vulnerability so we can save empathy and re-humanize our companies.
This starts with each of us individually as business leaders.
But in spite of how dire I believe the communication landscape is, I know there’s a great deal we can do to turn this tide, starting with a critical examination of our communication. I remind my clients that learning doesn’t stop in college and, instead, is a life-long pursuit, in which we get to continually improve how we communicate. Improved communication always leads to improved outcomes.
The solutions are quite easy:
Take time to unplug and think.
Put your phone down and listen.
Have meaningful conversations.
Give positive and constructive feedback.
Relate to other people, in person as much as possible.
Realize that humans are not replaceable parts of our organizations, they are the organization.
Develop your people, and build a culture that cultivates communication and relationships.
Use communication to build and foster growth, rather than to be reactive.
Becoming Aware of Ourselves and Our Work Peers
I’m a realist (but maybe that’s what pessimists say to feel better) and I know that firing up the generator of caring within each of us sounds like a lot of hard work. But the truth is, we already care, we just show very little of it, we internalize it and care more about ourselves than others. As humans, we need to be aware of our feelings, good and bad. We have a responsibility to recognize and affirm other people. We need to realize that we can disagree with someone and still respect them.
I’m not advocating that anyone starts hugging everyone and institute trust falls in the office – everything I teach and coach is grounded in science, research, and results. I’m advocating for us to recognize and remember that we get further as a collective than as individuals, and the wealth of social science data around the world reminds us that how and what we communicate is at the heart of how far we can go.
Putting It All Together
Humans are social creatures, so let’s be social again. Stop with the apathy and give a ‘fuck’. Let’s stop celebrating ruthlessness and instead, celebrate empathy, connection, and logic. This starts with giving your employees opportunities to sharpen their communication skills, which empower them to be vulnerable, open, and actively empathetic.
It’s time to start practicing our communication skills with the intention of improving them. It is time to take stock of our relationships. It’s time we re-humanize ourselves and our organizations. This requires vulnerability and I say let’s unapologetically lean into it.
Now, take the first step, put down your phone, and reflect for 30 minutes with no distractions. I bet you’ll feel better after.
About Dr. Michael Burns
Dr. Michael Burns is a professor, trainer, consultant, and coach passionate about human communication. With a Ph.D. in the field, he blends academic research with practical experience to help people and organizations improve their communication skills—key for success in all areas of life.
He loves bringing the classroom to the industry and has worked with companies and people worldwide. As the founder of Burns Learning, he collaborates with diverse leaders to re-humanize their businesses and lives through impactful communication skills.
Dr. Burns continues his love for teaching by leading courses for our new Lupa Career Accelerator program, supporting Latin American professionals in their search for better job opportunities in the U.S.
