Communication the Power of Communication in Organizations

Communication

The Power of Communication in Organizations

The unifying dynamic of all successful organizations is communication. The foundational elements of all successful collaboration, coordination and the synchronization of complex systems and tasks are predicated on a multifaceted and well-integrated communications network across an enterprise (Smeltzer, Glab, Golen, 1983). The highest performing organizations often have the most agile, open and knowledge-rich networks of their industries, making tacit and explicit knowledge easily shared across the entire ecosystem (Huseman, Alexander, Driver, 1980). When an organization's communication channels at the individual, group, division and corporate level are stifled or limited, productivity and eventually profitability will suffer. The upward and downward flows of communication within an organization determine the level of agility the company achieves as well (Huseman, Alexander, Driver, 1980). The goals of this analysis are to evaluate what happens in an organization when communication is limited, and second, how downward and upward communication affects the functions of an organization as well.

Best Practices in Communication

The agility and speed at which an organization can change direction in response to market conditions is a direct result of how fluid and open their communication channels are, both at the individual and department levels. When communication becomes constrained or limited, there is a corresponding limit place on profitability and the potential for growth. The greater the openness and knowledge sharing in a given organizational ecosystem the higher the potential for profitable performance (Huseman, Alexander, Driver, 1980). Limited communication also makes change management exceptionally difficult as well, as with lack of information and knowedlge sharing comes lack of trust (Nelissen, Martine, 2008). The less the level of communication or the more limited it is, the less the ability of individuals in an organization to trust and work with each other. This lack of trust acts as a decelerator or constraint on how far a company can get to its goals in the timeframes necessary for their accomplishment (Nelissen, Martine, 2008). Best practices in communication seek to open and encourage, not limit communication through organizations.