A recent study by HR.com's HR Research Institute reveals significant deficiencies in organizational communication practices, with only 15% of organizations reaching the two highest levels of the communication maturity model. The research indicates widespread dissatisfaction with current communication efforts, as just 31% of respondents rate their communication effectiveness as high or very high. These findings suggest that most organizations operate at mediocre or worse levels in workforce communication, pointing to a critical area needing improvement across industries.
The study identifies key differentiators between leading organizations and those struggling with communication challenges. 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. Furthermore, these top-performing organizations are 10 times more likely to be at the highest stage of communication maturity, enabling them to foster clear, consistent, and impactful communication throughout their workforce. This correlation between measurement capability and communication success provides valuable insights for HR vendors developing assessment tools and analytics platforms.
Managerial communication emerges as a significant weakness in many organizations. Only 47% of respondents agree or strongly agree that managers actively listen to employees, while just 35% believe managers are well-trained in communication skills. Perhaps most concerning for vendors offering communication metrics solutions, a mere 28% report that managers have access to good communication metrics. These gaps in managerial communication capabilities represent substantial opportunities for HR technology providers specializing in manager training, listening tools, and communication analytics.
Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating that communication represents a significant challenge requiring organizations to reassess and strengthen their communication strategies. The implications extend across industries, as effective communication directly impacts employee engagement, productivity, and overall workplace success. Organizations hindered by poor communication practices may experience increased misunderstandings, reduced efficiency, and lower employee satisfaction, ultimately affecting their competitive position in talent markets.
For HR vendors serving the human resources industry, this research highlights growing demand for solutions addressing communication deficiencies. Organizations seeking improvement will likely require communication training programs for managers, more sophisticated measurement tools for communication efforts, and strategic guidance for developing mature communication frameworks. The full research report, available at https://www.hr.com/en/research/state-of-employee-communications-and-collaboration-2024-25/, offers detailed insights and actionable recommendations for professionals seeking to enhance workforce communication and collaboration.
The study's timing proves particularly relevant as organizations navigate increasingly complex workplace arrangements, including remote and hybrid models where effective communication becomes even more critical. A recording of the research webcast presentation, available at https://www.hr.com/en/webcasts/the-winning-formula-communication-action-collaboration/, provides additional context for understanding these communication challenges. For vendors in the HR technology space, these findings signal growing market opportunities for solutions that address communication measurement, manager development, and strategic communication planning as organizations recognize communication's fundamental role in workplace effectiveness and talent management success.
