The relentless advance of technology has transformed the training landscape. Executives are often inundated with the latest trends via conferences, webinars and online resources, yet they frequently overlook a crucial skill: effective communication.

This article posits that robust communication skills, rather than mere technical expertise, are fundamental to driving future corporate growth. There’s a pressing need to reframe investment in employees, prioritizing the development of their communication abilities.

Alarming Statistics

One survey found that 21% of professionals report workplace aggression or harassment. The figure is likely understated due to unreported incidents.

Health care providers, particularly, experience significantly higher rates of verbal and physical abuse on the job. One study found that a staggering 88.9% of nurses participating in their research reported experiencing workplace violence, including:

• Verbal abuse: Reported by 38% of nurses.
• Mobbing: This is a form of workplace bullying, and 25.4% of nurses experienced it.
• Physical violence: Faced by 11% of nurses.

Additionally, Kaiser Family Foundation notes that young adults have suffered markedly increased anxiety and depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has also reshaped work habits significantly. A Forbes Advisor article indicated that in 2023, nearly 40.2% of people were working remotely or in a hybrid model, projecting that this will rise to include 32.06 million Americans by 2025.

Remote Work Challenges

The shift to remote work prompts the question: Have companies adequately adjusted their training programs to accommodate this change. One article suggests that remote work can affect stress, anger, productivity and safety, with employees managing distractions from family life alongside their professional responsibilities.

Communication Silos and Human Connection

The corporate focus on risk mitigation and compliance often leads to the creation of information silos, obstructing clear interdepartmental communication. Social media and reliance on digital communication have eroded face-to-face interactions, often resulting in misunderstandings and increased stress.

Tips to mitigate these challenges include:

• Understanding Conflict: Leaders who can recognize different types of conflict — interpersonal, intrapersonal and organizational — can better navigate and resolve them.
• Reiterate the Positive Aspects of Conflict: Conflict is not inherently negative. It can create opportunities to express thoughts and feelings, identify issues, spark creativity and innovation, and promote mutual understanding.
• Effective Communication for Conflict Management: Leaders who combine strong personal communication skills with an understanding of body language and speech patterns are better equipped to manage difficult situations.

For example, when dealing with a stressed and emotional colleague, effective communication strategies include putting away your phone, creating a safe space (keep yourself in the “yellow” physical zone) by maintaining personal space, making eye contact and actively listening. Briefly summarize what you hear to ensure understanding and express empathy for their situation.

Remember, conflict itself is not a problem, but poorly managed conflict is a problem!

The Training Trap

Companies might invest in scripted communications for customer interactions, but this often neglects nonverbal communication elements, such as body language and empathy, which are vital for building trust and effectively resolving issues.

The Communication Renaissance

The future of training for leaders should focus on enhancing emotional intelligence (EQ) by:

• Prioritizing poorly managed conflict: Train leaders to genuinely understand employees, interpreting and using body language to improve comprehension.
• Embracing Empathy: Develop leaders’ ability to understand and respond to others’ emotions, which can enhance trust and collaboration.
• Strengthening Nonverbal Communication: Teach leaders how to interpret and understand body language and facial expressions effectively.

Building a Resilient Workforce

For a resilient workforce, training programs should also focus on:

Sexual harassment:

Train employees on how to recognize, respond to and report sexual harassment in the workplace.

Cybersecurity awareness:

Educate employees on best practices to secure data, such as:

• Strong passwords: Educate on creating complex passwords, using a password manager, and avoiding password reuse.
• Phishing awareness: Train employees to identify suspicious emails, attachments and links. Encourage reporting attempts.
• Social engineering: Explain how social engineering tactics manipulate people into giving away information or clicking malicious links.
• Data security: Emphasize the importance of data sensitivity, secure file sharing practices and avoiding data breaches
• Software updates policy: Train employees on your company’s policy for software updates.

The Bottom Line

Effective communication is more than a soft skill — it’s the cornerstone of a thriving organization. Investing in EQ for leaders and employees unlocks potential and fosters corporate growth.