---
title: Why is communication important in business? | HR blog
description: Adam Davey, Director at Petaurum Solutions, explains why communication is crucial for business success and types of communication organisations can improve
image: https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/hubfs/why-business-communication-important.jpg
---

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# Why is communication important in business? | HR blog

Published on June 27, 2022 by [Adam Davey](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/author/adam-davey)

**    [Employee engagement](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/tag/employee-engagement) · [HR](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/tag/hr)

![](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/hubfs/why-business-communication-important.jpg)

*Why is communication important in business and what can organisations do to improve it? Adam Davey, Director at Petaurum Solutions, explains why communication is so crucial for business success and the different types of communication organisations can improve on.*

In the Oxford English Dictionary, communication is described as *'The transmission or exchange of information, knowledge, or ideas, by means of speech, writing, mechanical or electronic media.*”

Why communication is important in business might seem obvious, but sometimes the obvious things are easy to overlook, so let’s recap.

## Communicating with different business audiences

Firstly, if communication is the ‘the transmission or exchange of information, knowledge, or ideas’, who this needs to be communicated to will be the first stage in determining its importance. In any business, these will typically be:

- Clients (and potential clients)
- Employees
- Other Stakeholders

### Clients/customers

Great communication to clients/customers (and potential clients/customers) contributes to a [company’s reputation](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/employer-branding-guide) and growth. Clear communication allows you to take feedback and improve from it. In addition, it makes your clients feel that they are valued and cared for. It allows you to anticipate their needs and help not only with retaining existing clients but also with acquiring new ones.

### Employees

Effective communication is a vital tool for any business. If you fail to clearly communicate your purpose, vision, and values, it will be difficult to get your employees to embrace it the same way you do. Great communication to employees [improves engagement](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/employee-engagement-strategies), makes employees feel valued and involved, reduces [employee turnover](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/high-staff-turnover), and helps with setting clear goals and expectations.

### Other stakeholders

Precise communication with other stakeholders is critical as the messages will need to be tailored and specific to the audience. For example, Shareholders will need a different message and style of communication to a Board of Directors. An industry regulator will need a different message and style of communication to a supplier or trade body.

No great surprises so far?

If the importance of effective business communication is this obvious, how can you develop business communication skills in your team?

## How to develop business communication skills in your team

![How to develop business communication skills in your team](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/asynchronous-communication-advantages.jpg?width=1500&name=asynchronous-communication-advantages.jpg)

Before answering how to develop business communication skills, it is important to consider what those skills are.

There are four key communication skills to consider:

- **Verbal communication** - The use of your voice to convey an idea or speak an opinion. Examples include virtual meetings, phone calls and in-person conversations.
- **Visual communication** - The use of images or graphics to make an idea clear. Examples include charts, maps, infographics, and videos.
- **Non-verbal communication** - The message we send and receive through behaviour. Examples include body language, gestures, dress, and facial expressions.
- **Written communication** - What we deliver through print or digital media. Examples include emails, letters, memos, reports, and other documentation.

## Business communication activities

So, how can you develop such skills in your team? Here are 6 key activities your business can use to develop various communication skills:

### 1. Consider your audience

Think about the audience and what message needs to be conveyed as this will allow you to determine which form of communication will work best. *(Verbal, Visual, Non-Verbal, Written)*

### 2. Listen

It’s often said ‘you have two ears and one mouth for a reason – use them in that proportion’. In other words, listen! If you listen carefully you will be in a much, much better place to communicate effectively, whatever method of communication you use. *(Verbal, Visual, Non-Verbal, Written)*

### 3. Be mindful of body language

Be mindful of your own body language, posture, facial expressions and other behaviours. The obvious example is maintaining eye contact when talking to someone to maintain engagement and interest. *(Verbal, Non-Verbal)*

### 4. Be curious

Be curious and interested. Ask open questions, find out interesting facts and details and use these to inform and enrich your communications. *(Verbal, Visual, Non-Verbal, Written)*

### 5. Learning and development

Take a course if you have a specific skill you wish to develop. Good examples might be:

- A public speaking course if you have lots of presentations or seminars to deliver *(Verbal)*
- A PowerPoint course if you have lots of presentations to create *(Visual)*
- A course on English language and grammar if you have lots of formal written communication to produce *(Written)*
- A body language course *(Non-Verbal)*
- A Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) course which looks at the way that humans think and process ideas, and how language and behaviour are used to express those ideas and communicate with others. *(Verbal, Non-Verbal)*

### 6. Using technology

Use technology as a way to share information faster, more effectively and to the right audience – we’re awash with choices from the good old-fashioned phone call, to email, text and other messenger services, through to collaboration platforms such as Slack, Miro, Google Drive, SharePoint and Click Up. *(Written, Visual)*

## 10 tips for improving communication

![10 tips for improving communication](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/communicate-employer-brand.jpg?width=1499&name=communicate-employer-brand.jpg)

Once you’ve developed these skills in your business, it’s all about applying them in practice to refine and improve your skills.

Here are our top ten tips that you can revisit when thinking about how to further develop your skills:

### Verbal

- 1. Use a strong, confident speaking voice
- 2. Actively listen
- 3. Avoid filler words, ah’s and um’s
- 4. Avoid jargon and acronyms where possible

### Non-Verbal

- 5. Be mindful and intentional about your non-verbal communication
- 6. Be aware of how this makes you feel (emotionally and physically)

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5034683/b5b8c193-f232-4c67-a210-e340c98ad18f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5034683/b5b8c193-f232-4c67-a210-e340c98ad18f)

### Visual

- 7. Consider your audience
- 8. Only use visuals if they add value
- 9. Keep them simple and easy to understand

### Written

- 10. Keep it simple and ask others to review it before sending

If you’re in a management or leadership role, you will also want to think about:

- Defining clear goals and expectations – Don’t assume your team will know them
- Holding regular 1-1’s
- Thinking about how to really connect at an emotional level with your audience through stories and examples to bring your messages to life
- And above all, being authentic

#### Read more from the myhrtoolkit blog

[How to manage asynchronous communication at work](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/manage-asynchronous-communication-at-work)

[5 technologies to help you boost internal communications](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/tech-boost-internal-communication)

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#### Written by [Adam Davey](https://www.myhrtoolkit.com/blog/author/adam-davey)

Adam Davey is Co-Founder & Director of Petaurum Solutions, with 30 years of experience in public and private sector HR, supporting businesses in their day-to-day staff management issues and implementing HR strategies in a range of organisations and sectors. Adam is also Chair of the Lincolnshire Branch of the CIPD.

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