Effective Communication Key To Engaging Employees, Says Study

(Published November 16, 2009)

 

In a tumultuous economy, companies with highly effective internal communication programs are better able to keep employees engaged and to retain key talent, reports the 2009/2010 Watson Wyatt Communication ROI Study.

 

Of the 328 worldwide organizations surveyed: 

• 61% of companies that are highly effective communicators report that their managers are effective at dealing openly with resistance to change, compared with only 18% of low-effectiveness communicators;
  
  
• 64% of highly effective communicators report that their managers are effective at addressing the needs and concerns of their current employees, compared with only 22% of companies that are low-effectiveness communicators;
  
  
• 73% of highly effective communicators say their managers are effective at supporting the executive management vision through their actions, compared with only 29% of low-effectiveness communicators; and
  
  
• 53% of highly effective communicators are including more communication outcome metrics in their strategies, compared with only 34% of low-effectiveness communicators.

 

"As the economy continues to shift, keeping employees up-to-date on how the company is responding, and how they are affected, will help insure against their becoming demoralized and disconnected," said Kathryn Yates, global leader of communication consulting at Watson Wyatt.  "Effective communication helps engage employees, and that has positive implications for productivity and the bottom line."