Consequences of Not Having Communication Skills
In the broader world, the consequences of not having communication skills are subtle. In business, they are a matter of dollars and cents. Perhaps you have considered your poor communication skills a liability that your company can live with. However, not having good communication skills is a detriment to any business, a hindrance that is keeping your business from achieving its full potential.
Other People Are Reading
-
Poor Morale
-
People working underneath you may be put off by your poor communication skills. Your employees may find you difficult to understand or speak to. This means that they may go to others for instruction rather than you. They may also hold back on expressing ideas in the workplace, feeling stifled for having to do so. Finally, if you have a tendency to come off as brusque or rude, you may find your employees resenting you, even if this is not your intent.
Lost Profits
-
Your inability to communicate may be costing your company money in several ways. Employees who do not feel they can communicate with their boss are likely to hold back from expressing potentially profitable ideas. Unclear communication can also lead to miscommunication that causes potentially costly mistakes. Your employees can hardly be blamed for failing for follow your poor communication correctly.
-
Lost Business
-
Beyond the loss of profit due to increased costs, you may also have decreased revenues due to your poor communication skills. Bad communication can cost you a sale due to your inability to close. You may also make your clients uneasy with with poor communication style, causing them to rush to end meeting that, if made longer, would result in more sales. This can lead to one of the worst consequences of not having communication skills--a bad reputation.
Lost Personnel
-
Chances are, if you have bad communication skills, some of your best and brightest have set out for greener pastures. Highly talented employees have their choice of where to work. Most employees would prefer a boss who can communicate to one who cannot. Thus, you won't just be losing employees, you'll be losing the ones you would most like to keep around.
-
