Study Reveals Widespread Communication Deficiencies in Organizations

A comprehensive study conducted by HR.com's HR Research Institute has uncovered significant deficiencies in employee communication and collaboration across organizations, with only 15% of organizations considering themselves at the two highest levels of the communication maturity model. The research reveals that just 31% of respondents rate the effectiveness of their communication as high or very high, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with current communication practices. Most organizations rate themselves as mediocre or worse in their workforce communication efforts, pointing to a critical need for improvement in this fundamental business function.

The study identified key differentiators between organizations that excel at communication and those that struggle. Organizations highly successful at employee communication are over 19 times more likely to effectively measure their communication efforts to a high or very high degree. These leading organizations are also 10 times more likely to be at the highest stage of communication maturity, which enables them to foster clear, consistent, and impactful communication across their workforce. The research highlights that effective measurement and higher communication maturity levels are crucial factors separating successful communication programs from inadequate ones.

Managerial communication gaps emerged as a significant contributor to organizational communication problems. Only about half (47%) of respondents agree or strongly agree that managers in their organizations are actively listening to employees. Furthermore, just 35% believe that their managers are well-trained in communication skills, and a mere 28% say managers have access to good communication metrics. These findings suggest that inadequate manager training and support may be undermining organizational communication efforts at multiple levels.

Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating that the data clearly shows communication is a significant challenge for many organizations and there is a critical need for organizations to reassess and strengthen their communication strategies to foster better collaboration and overall workplace effectiveness. The implications extend across industries, as effective communication is crucial for employee engagement, productivity, and overall workplace success.

The full research report, HR.com's State of Employee Communications and Collaboration 2024-25, is available for free download and offers detailed insights and actionable recommendations for HR professionals. Additionally, a recording of the research webcast presentation, The Winning Formula: Communication + Action = Collaboration, is available for on-demand viewing. As organizations continue navigating modern workplace complexities including remote and hybrid arrangements, this study serves as a critical reminder of the importance of effective communication strategies for long-term organizational success and employee satisfaction.