Why Are Workplace Communications In Disarray Even With Communication Tools?

During a late night overseas Google Meet call, a colleague asked:

“why are our workplace communications in such a disarray even when we have a suite of expensive communication tools like Slack, Monday, and Miro to manage our diverse teams and projects”? 

A pertinent question – one I often hear in various workplaces. While communication tools facilitate information transfer, they do not capture the nuances of our culture and temperament that we always bring into our workplaces, intentionally or not. 

Let me explain. 

Diverse workplaces exist because talent transcends borders; the geographical, political, social, and cultural borders. 

Now, how do diverse workplaces connect? They connect by communicating, both spoken and written. Our communication skills affect productivity, performance, and profit (or, impact): the three pillars of any business. 

Communication is the core, yet the core is crumbling. 

The 2024 State of Business Communication global report by Grammarly and The Harris Poll finds that 1 in 5 business leaders reported loss of business due to poor communication. Their 2022 report states that poor workplace communication costs US businesses an estimate of $1.2 trillion a year. Think what would the cost be for the entire world! 

What can be done? 

Organisations and businesses need to upskill their diverse workplaces with intercultural communication skills. 

Understanding Intercultural Communication

Have you been a part of meeting spaces where everyone seemingly speaks the same language, often the language is English, yet it becomes drastically difficult for the work to progress?!

Why does this happen? Shouldn’t there be unilateral understanding when everyone speaks the same language?

Remember:

The language can be same. Yet, the intent behind the phrases and sentences, and the way of expression differs with every speaker.

This is where the knowledge of intercultural communication comes into play.

Intercultural communication is the understanding that people from different backgrounds have different way of thinking, speaking, and behaving.

Intercultural communication skills become mandatory for diverse workplaces because we communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds. It means people need to be mindful of nonverbal cues, actively listen to people, and avoid their inner biases and stereotypical perceptions. Competence in intercultural communication means being aware of your cultural biases and make a genuine effort to see things from the perspectives of someone else.

Building intercultural communication competence helps diverse workplaces to thrive. With regular practice, it becomes easier to collaborate and resolve conflicts.

How can diverse workplaces gain intercultural communication competence? Through training. 

Impact of Intercultural Communication Training

Intercultural communication skills are a necessity; it is crucial for global business excellence. 

Intercultural communication in the workplace extends beyond daily interaction; it guides diverse workplaces to build and improve collaboration, productivity, and workforce happiness. 

• Cultivate Global Mindset 

Competence in intercultural communication goes beyond recognising workplace cultural diversity. Intercultural interaction helps to build a thriving organisational culture that supports the development of a workforce capable of integrating diverse perspectives in chasing excellence. 

• Facilitate Collaboration

Intercultural communication facilitates meaningful collaboration between diverse workplaces dispersed across timezones. Intercultural competence helps to acquire skills to bridge and navigate culturally-rooted communication styles, which ultimately drives workplace productivity and innovation. 

• Cross-Cultural Leadership

Leadership cannot ignore culture & communication. Workplace intercultural communication competence develops leaders who understand cross-cultural nuances and brings a diverse team together to pursue a common goal. Such leaders drive organisational success on a global scale. 

• Employee Engagement

Are employees ‘quiet quitting’ and/or disconnected from the team?! Diverse workplaces need to make their employees feel seen, heard, and valued. Intercultural communication training creates an environment where diverse perspectives build a collective sense of purpose. 

• Business Alignment 

Business success necessitates a keen awareness of cultural nuances. Intercultural communication competence ensures that communication strategies, marketing approaches, and business practices resonate across diverse markets. Businesses thrive when cultural nuances are adapted in business practices. 

Continuous Learning

Regular intercultural communication training creates a culture of net positive experiences in a diverse workplace. Competence in intercultural communication cultivates a diverse workforce who are committed to learn from diverse perspectives and they thrive as adaptable learners. 

Endnote

Diverse workplaces with intercultural communication competence is the way ahead for people-first organisations. Remember that an organisation will be as good as its culture, irrespective of how many communication tools are bought and deployed.