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he true impact of poor communication in the workplace has been widely debated since Grammarly and Harris Poll published their landmark study, which concluded that up to $1.2 trillion in business losses occurs each year due to poor communication. ineffective.
93% of managers agree that communication is the backbone of any company. While 73% of knowledge workers are very confident in their communication, three out of four executives believe their teams have communication problems .
Although the evidence of this problem is supported by recent studies, the reality is that companies do not have scalable tools to improve the communication of their teams. Largely because traditional alternatives, including consultancies, are too expensive. In fact, 96% of business leaders agree that new tools could help their companies communicate better.
Good business communication is a more complex challenge than it seems because it is multidisciplinary. To master quality business communication, six elements are needed: empathy with the public, structured arguments, training and learning, adaptation to the context, knowledge of the sector and a philosophy in line with the brand. We call these six disciplines ASTRID .
Another reality to take into account is that after the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a radical change in the way workplaces are managed. Managers have to navigate hybrid work environments while staying up to date with the changing range of tools used for communication.
The good news is that artificial intelligence (AI) , a technology that most companies have already begun to adopt, can be leveraged to improve business communication and, in turn, increase productivity and morale.
Here are three ways AI can help address common workplace communication challenges.
When it comes to internal communication, leaders must ensure that all employees receive important updates about company activity. However, doing so in large companies is complex.
On the one hand, 74% of employees believe they are missing out on company news , while 72% of employees do not have a complete understanding of their company's strategy.
On the other hand, information overload is a real phenomenon. 57% of employees and managers say they often receive multiple communications on the same or similar topics at the same time.
AI can be trained to understand the appropriate tone and style for a range of channels and internal audiences.
AI can intervene here to streamline the process of transmitting messages across multiple communication channels, while ensuring that information is clear, consistent and relevant to each audience.
For example, AI can be trained to understand the appropriate tone and style for a range of channels and internal audiences. When a company update needs to be sent, technology can quickly produce a series of variations according to established parameters.
This helps internal communications professionals ensure that content stays on brand and reaches the right audience with relevant angles and in the right tone. AI can be leveraged to avoid duplication, establish calendars, and automate message delivery across complex hierarchies.
Technology can also be used to assist with important internal campaigns, such as annual reports.
For example, sharing a 60-page PDF via email takes the task of delivering a message off the list, but you can't guarantee that employees will commit to catching up on the information. With the help of AI, these types of detailed but important company updates can be quickly broken down into small pieces of content for various media formats.
Related: Jobs increasingly demand more skills related to the management of artificial intelligence
Training (and subsequent onboarding) is another area of communication where AI can help. Employee retention is a major issue; Low morale and lack of connections are two of the most common reasons employees quit.
It is important to involve employees from the moment they join the company, but ongoing training on new processes and core benefits should be a year-round process. That said, if information is delivered with dense manuals, text-based questionnaires, or clunky training portals, employees are less likely to engage and retain key information.
AI can help transform existing training material into visually engaging, interactive and creative content
According to The Economist , video conferencing, presentations, whiteboards and drawing pads are considered very effective in helping respondents share ideas. Additionally, visuals amplify the three critical factors for decision-making and problem-solving: comprehension, retention, and actionability.
AI can help transform existing training material into visually engaging, interactive and creative content. This can be done at scale cost-effectively to transform the way employees think about internal training.
The technology can also be used for team leaders and department heads to create new courses and sessions relevant to their staff with adjustable templates and materials.
Despite the data, communication as a set of skills is still considered something amorphous and secondary to traditional technical skills. This means that leaders and executives often do not receive the support and training they need to hone this skill and keep up with new communication channels. AI can play an important role in this regard.
Although promoting collaborative problem solving is a fundamental imperative for any organization, the conventional approach often places the burden on a single person.
It's another area of internal communication that has a significant impact on business results, but is often overlooked.
AI can provide invaluable help when it comes to resolving problems and conflicts. Technology can create visual presentations and interactive content that allows teams to solve problems, share opinions and contribute ideas to ensure employees feel heard.
AI can also help take notes during meetings , manage project deliverables, and automate reminders. This helps managers hold teams accountable without being overbearing, while also keeping track of key moments they can refer to in case of conflict or confusion.
Finally, many problems are due to misunderstandings. Here leaders can leverage AI to structure presentations logically and build engaging stories that make it easy for employees to give feedback and absorb information.
Modern businesses are struggling with communication on several fronts. Leaders must equip their employees with the tools and training they need to regain lost productivity and improve low morale on their teams.
Modern AI is still in its early stages. However, by leveraging this technology, leaders can introduce countless ways to improve communication in their companies. And, why not, turn everyone into a communication superhero.