August 3, 2023
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What's the single biggest factor between successful businesses and struggling businesses?
It's not their product. It's not their advertising budget.
…it's communication.
How important are communication skills?
Simply put: THEY ARE EVERYTHING.
A staggering $1.2 trillion USD per year is lost to poor communication in US businesses alone. We're talking about trillion…with a T.
But here's the crazy thing…
Most companies view communication skills as optional.
If you spoke to the average business owner, they'd probably say something along the lines of:
"Oh we could be better at communicating…but it's not something we spend a lot of time thinking about."
Wrong. And dangerous to think that way.
Whether you're discussing terms with a client over email or hopping on a conference call with colleagues, communication ties every successful business together.
From marketing teams attempting to explain their latest campaign, to CEOs pitching to investors, effective communication skills are essential.
The ability to present ideas clearly and professionally separates strong leaders from weak leaders.
Want more proof?
Businesses with effective communication practices report higher productivity, better customer satisfaction and stronger brand reputations.
They know how to optimise workflows by minimising misunderstandings and maximising clarity.
The problem?
Most employees never receive any formal training on how to communicate professionally.
Many people "learn as they go" when it comes to communication. This means mistakes are made. Big ones.
Emails are misunderstood. Sales meetings go awkward. Presentations fall flat.
And this is why adult general English classes are becoming so popular.
Not only are these classes great for ESL employees looking to sharpen their skills. Offices are also enrolling native English speakers to learn how to communicate better.
Businesses in DC are able to take advantage of English courses in Washington DC by enrolling their team in group sessions. No matter your employees' level, instructors can help them reach their professional communication goals.
Ok, let's talk money. Poor communication is terrible for your business' bottom line.
According to a recently published study done by Project.co:
"68% of consumers say they have defected from a brand to their competitor due to poor communication."
That means MORE THAN HALF of your customers will just take their business elsewhere if you do not meet their communication expectations.
Yeah, that's bad.
Want to know what's worse?
Employees feel the effects of poor communication too.
86% of employees blame poor communication for failure in the workplace.
That means that if your office isn't communicating effectively, nearly 9 out of 10 of your employees will notice. And they're not going to be happy about it.
Some other statistics from the study:
Again…these are BUSINESS KILLER problems.
Here's a little secret most business owners don't know…
Investing in group general English classes for your team helps your business, period.
Guess who else enrolls in ESL classes? Native English Speakers.
You heard that right.
Business owners are enrolling their teams in English courses in order to improve how they communicate.
So how does it work?
Practice. Practice makes perfect.
Adult education classrooms provide students with hands on experience communicating in real-world situations. Whether it's through role playing client meetings or writing professional business reports, instructors help students fine-tune their communication skills.
And businesses that have better communication practices have…
Employees that are 72% more productive.
Yep. You read that right.
Teams with good communication skills put out better quality work, faster.
…But wait. There's one more benefit.
There's a bigger reason why companies are investing in English classes for their staff.
English is the second most spoken language in the world (1251 million speakers).
But the majority of those speakers are not from native English-speaking countries.
This creates a problem for multinational businesses and teams with diverse staff.
If your business does not communicate professionally, there will be misunderstandings.
Language classes allow business owners to ensure every employee is communicating on the same level. It encourages confidence in non-native speakers and helps native speakers learn how to properly communicate in a professional setting.
When your team is communicating on the same level, collaboration is easier. Mistakes are reduced. Productivity increases.
Did you know?
Group language classes have been shown to increase business productivity by 80%.
You know communication is important. So how do you ensure your business is communicating as well as possible?
Here are five simple ways to boost communication skills in your workplace.
This cannot be stressed enough. If you want your team to communicate better, you have to give them the tools to do so.
Business owners can do this by providing professional communication training to their teams. Many companies are turning to English classes as a way for their teams to learn how to communicate in a professional setting.
Your employees should know how you expect them to communicate. This means response times for emails, how meetings should be structured and more.
When your team knows what's expected of them, they can perform their job better.
Active listening is just as important as sharing your thoughts. Teach your employees to process what they hear first.
This will help your employees feel more heard and reduce miscommunications.
Not everything needs a meeting. Quick questions can be answered via chat. Complex discussions require a voice or video call. Project updates should be shared in a project management system.
Using the right tool for the job will ensure your communication is clear and concise.
Employees like to hear what they're doing well (and what they can improve on).
By creating a healthy feedback environment, you will allow information to flow both ways. This will help your employees feel more satisfied and allow them to do their jobs better.
Communication skills are the most underrated business asset out there.
When your business commits to communicating better, everyone wins.
Team morale increases. Customers are happier. Your bottom line grows.
If you want your business to take communication seriously, start by leading by example.
Show your team that communication is important to you by…
Want to see results for your business?
Once you've laid the foundation, begin incorporating some of the tips discussed above.
You'll be amazed at the difference strong communication skills can make for your business.
Strong communication skills are a vital asset because they directly influence your business's success. Effective communication leads to higher productivity, better team morale, increased customer satisfaction, and a stronger brand reputation, all of which contribute to a healthier bottom line.
Poor communication creates direct and indirect financial losses. It can cause you to lose customers to competitors, leads to employees wasting hours each week on misunderstandings, and contributes to higher staff turnover as frustrated employees seek other jobs. One study found that US businesses lose a staggering $1.2 trillion annually due to this issue.
You can start by creating clear communication guidelines so everyone knows what is expected. Other effective methods include training employees on communication, encouraging active listening, ensuring the right channels are used for different messages, and providing frequent, constructive feedback to your team.
No, they are valuable for everyone. Many businesses enroll their entire teams, including native English speakers, to refine their professional communication. These courses help standardise communication practices, improve clarity in reports and meetings, and enhance cross-cultural understanding within diverse teams.
Promote a culture of active listening. You can do this by training your team to process what they hear before responding. Encourage them to ask clarifying questions and summarise key points to confirm their understanding. This simple practice reduces miscommunication and makes employees feel more valued.
