Causes and Effect of Communication Breakdown in an Organisation
ABSTRACT
Every business organization shall establish a proper, clear, definite communication channel. It will help the employees, staff, worker, manager and every other person working in the organization to discharge his/her duties to his/her utmost potential. Proper communication channels eliminate the chances of communication breakdown, passing of vague and unclear information.
AUTHOR – NEETI SOLANKI
Keywords – Communication and Business
Communication is the pillar which helps the organization to stand still and contribute towards its growth in every aspect. Communication is defined as the process through which a piece of information is passed or transferred from one person to another, from one level to another, from one department to another. It is very crucial for the organization that the communication process starts and ends smoothly without any disturbance and barriers.
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
By dictionary terms communication breakdown means a lack of conveying, failure to exchange information.
In other words, when a piece of information is starting to pass from one person to another, one level to another, one department to another, due to the concerned reason the information could not reach to the concerned person, level, department. Here, communication breakdown is seen. Its causes and effects can be seen in every aspect of business organization.
CAUSES OF COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
There are many causes which give rise to communication breakdown in a business organization. Few are below mentioned:
IMPROPER COMMUNICATION CHANNEL
Every business organization shall establish a proper, clear, definite communication channel. It will help the employees, staff, worker, manager and every other person working in the organization to discharge his/her duties to his/her utmost potential. Proper communication channels eliminate the chances of communication breakdown, passing of vague and unclear information. An organization which has a proper communication channel is likely to reach a higher level and gain competitive advantage among its competitive business organization.
VAGUE MEDIUM OF TRANSFER OF INFORMATION
The medium of transfer of information in a business organization shall be always pre determined. Whether it is verbal, non verbal, or any other mode it shall be pre decided and the same shall be conveyed to the concerned workers, employees, manager or any other person who falls in the communication chain. It helps in minimizing the doubts, uncertainty and unnecessary confusion arising in respect of information that is yet to be received or transferred.
VALIDITY OF INFORMATION
Every information that is once passed becomes obsolete after a specific period of time. People working in the organization must know and have a specific training regarding the knowledge that helps them to distinguish between a piece of information that is still valid and relevant with a piece of information that is not valid in the current scenario and has become obsolete. This knowledge of distinguishing is very important and helps the employees, managers, etc of the organization to not take action on the basis of obsolete information.
ACCOUNTABILITY OF EMPLOYEES AND MANAGERS
It is a major characteristic that should be ingrained in any person falling through the transmission chain. Sometimes in a business organization, for information to be passed it has to pass through a couple of minds. Each person shall perform its prime duty of passing the information to the other person, level and department. Here, if the concerned person is not accountable and trustworthy it will create unnecessary tension in the organization. The prime duty of the information holder is to pass the information and one must not fail to do so.
WORKLOAD AMONG THE PERSONNEL
One must not be given and also one must not accept work over and above his capacity of doing it. It is the main reason for the communication breakdown. Due to work overload and information overload, it becomes very difficult for the personnel to manage, transfer, and preserve such a huge amount of information. It minimizes the efficiency required to eliminate communication breakdown. The top level management should keep a regular check on work assigned to the personnel to make sure the work given and accepted is within the capacity of the personnel.
Effects of communication breakdown in a business organization can be seen in every level, department of the organization .Few are below mentioned:
EFFECTS OF COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
BARRIER IN GROWTH OF THE BUSINESS ORGANISATION
Communication breakdown hampers the growth of the business organization in every facet. It is a very small term but has a wider impact in the growth of organization if due diligence is not given. A business organization must always try to strengthen its communication process and communication channel for better results and minimize the factors which hamper the growth of the organization.
UNCLEAR DEADLINES AND GOALS
It is very crucial for the business organization that the goals of the organization shall always be clear, unambiguous and definite. It can only be achieved if the transmission channel and mode of communication is predetermined and understandable for every person in the organization. The top level management shall formulate an efficient communication channel to avoid delay in meeting the deadlines. Employers shall always convey to the employee the urgency regarding the meeting of deadlines. It helps the employees to meet the deadlines to their best potential.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF CLIENTS
Due to communication breakdown, there are times when the requirements of clients are not properly acknowledged and conveyed. As a result of which the best work is not delivered to the client and it leads to dissatisfaction and disappointment of clients. Dissatisfaction with clients is not good for the reputation of a business organization. The business organization shall take relevant measures to minimize breakdown of communication and encourage delivering the best work to the clients.
DELAY IN ACHIEVING GOALS
The most prominent effect of transmission breakdown which can be seen in a business organization is delay in achieving goals. Communication breakdown increases difficulty in understanding and interpreting the goals in their true spirit and sense which results in delay in achieving them.
INCREASING DEMOTIVATION AND LOW MORALE IN EMPLOYEES
Due to communication breakdown, demotivation in employees working in the organization can be seen. Due to which the working atmosphere is affected and the working mindset is hampered. This results in low morale among employees.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
There are times in a business organization when there are many rising opportunities and vacancies in the business organization. Due to transmission breakdown, the opportunities may not be properly conveyed to the whole business organization and most importantly to the deserving candidate. This creates a sense of demotivation among employees.
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