Communication Skills and the News
Companies that communicate effectively financially outperform those that don't.
"Watson Wyatt’s 2005/2006 Communication ROI Study found that between 2000 and 2004,
companies with the most effective communication programs returned 57 percent more to
their shareholders than companies with the least effective communication programs."
http://www.watsonwyatt.com/us/news/press.asp?ID=15362
Don't believe communication skills impact your success at work?
"Doctors who score poorly
in a communication skills test they take before becoming licensed are more likely to be the
subjects of complaints to regulatory authorities when they're practising physicians, says
a Canadian study."
Source: CBC News, September 5, 2007
Poor communication skills a factor in a fatal workplace accident?
"After the deaths
of two workers on the subway tracks, New York City Transit officials are grappling with
a hard question: Are they putting the right people in charge of work crews underground?
... In addition to the numerous mistakes Mr. London made on the day of the accident,
it said, he had poor communication skills. 'Based upon the events that transpired,' the
report said, 'his ability to effectively supervise personnel performing duties on the
right of way was extremely lacking.'"
Source: The New York Times, Subway Deaths
Raise Questions on the Selection of Supervisors, August 3, 2007
Managers know their workplace communication skills are not up to snuff.
"Complementing the 2005 survey, the Development Dimensions International 2004
Leadership Forecast study looked at what leaders are delivering. Of more than 1,500
leaders, most at first or second leadership levels, 84 percent indicated that
communication, or "explaining ideas clearly," is most critical to their jobs.
Yet, only 38 percent rated their own proficiency in this area as high. There is
a large gap between the perceived importance of communication and the executives'
relative abilities."
Source: Nation's Restaurant News, Effective leaders champion communication skills, March 27, 2006