If there’s one thing guaranteed to drain motivation faster than a Monday morning meeting, it’s poor communication. In fact, when we asked our LinkedIn community what stalls engagement the most, 57% pointed the finger at poor communication. And they’re not wrong.
Good communication isn’t just about sharing updates, it’s about building trust, clarity and connection. When it’s missing, engagement plummets. When it’s strong, teams thrive. So, why is communication so critical to performance, and how can you get it right?
The link between communication and engagement
Studies show that employees who feel heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to do their best work. Yet according to Gallup, only 13% of employees strongly agree that their organisation communicates effectively.
That gap between what people need and what they receive can cost businesses dearly. Miscommunication leads to disengagement, missed goals and turnover, and ultimately, a loss of trust. But when teams have clarity, they feel confident, aligned and motivated.
Think of communication as the oxygen of engagement; it keeps everyone connected, focused and fuelled.
What poor communication really costs
When communication breaks down, so does culture. Confusion creeps in, expectations become blurred, and frustration takes hold. It’s one of the fastest ways to derail productivity and morale.
Here’s what poor communication often looks like:
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Goals and priorities that shift without context
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Leaders sharing updates inconsistently or not at all
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Recognition that never reaches the right people
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A lack of feedback loops or listening channels
According to research from Grammarly and The Harris Poll, businesses lose up to $1.2 trillion annually due to poor communication. That’s not just time wasted; that’s talent wasted.
Building a culture of clear communication
Strong communication doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a habit, and it starts from the top. Here are a few simple ways to strengthen it:
Create clarity from the start
Make sure every employee knows what success looks like and how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Clear expectations are the foundation of engagement.
Listen as much as you speak
Two-way communication is key. Regular surveys, pulse checks and open forums give employees a voice and make them feel heard.
Recognise, regularly
When people know their effort is seen and appreciated, they’re more likely to stay engaged. Recognition is one of the simplest and most powerful forms of communication.
Leverage technology
A well-designed employee engagement and recognition platform brings communication, feedback and celebration together in one place. Whether it’s sharing wins, highlighting milestones or reinforcing values, it creates a consistent and connected culture, even across dispersed teams.
Communication, connection and culture all in one platform
At Incentivesmart, we help businesses bring their culture to life through better communication. Our platform makes it easy to:
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Recognise and reward great work instantly
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Share updates and celebrate success company-wide
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Gather real-time feedback through surveys and insights
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Align teams around shared goals and values
Because when people feel informed, appreciated and connected, they give their all.
Final thought
Engagement doesn’t start with grand gestures; it starts with good conversations. When you make communication clear, consistent and human, everything else falls into place.
If poor communication is holding your culture back, it’s time to fix it.
