Improving Employees Communication Skills

One of the most applied methods used is to increase interpersonal communication skills by making use
of training workshops; the experts who conduct this training are outside consultants or company
trainers.

Organizational communication does not only function orally, as part of systemic efficiency, employees
must also hone their written communication skills.

Two approaches help in improving written communication skills; improving the writer's skills and
making the material easier to read.

1. How do we improve an employee's writing skills?

Broadbent (1997) advises that writing skills can be improved when writers value what they write,
and set personal standards and goals.

2. How can a written output's readability be improved?

When in use of an index, an organization analyzes the material to be read and then compares its
readability level with the typical education of the employees who will read the document.

Each of the indices uses different formula and methods.

For example;

The Fry Readability Graph uses the average number of syllables per word and the average length of
sentences to determine readability.

The Flesch Index —the readability index included in Microsoft Word—uses the average sentence
length and number of syllables per 100 words.

The FOG Index uses the number of words per sentence and the number of three-syllable words per
100.

The Dale-Chall Index uses the number of words that are not included in a list of words known by
80% of fourth graders.
Chapter Summary

There are three types of organizational communication: upward, downward, and horizontal.

There are three main problem areas in interpersonal communication: the intended message versus the
message actually sent, the message sent versus the message received, and the message received versus
the message interpreted.

Interpersonal communication can be improved with more effective listening skills, understanding the six
different styles of listening (leisure, inclusive, stylistic, technical, empathic, and nonconforming), and
considering the emotional state, cognitive ability, and personal biases of the sender and the receiver.

Written communication can be improved by learning better writing skills and by writing organizational
documents at a reading level that matches the reading level of most employees