According to the first annual Workplace Communications Impact Survey—conducted online in September 2010 and released in June 2011 by Harris Interactive and Yammer Inc. — companies still have a long way to go in improving internal communications and collaboration. This survey of more than 1,000 adult workers shows that communication bottlenecks have a direct impact on employee productivity, and that the majority of employees do not feel valued by their company or comfortable sharing ideas or feedback with senior management. Specific findings include:
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Most employees don’t think their company excels at internal communications:15% say their company is not at all effective at internal communications, while just 8% say their company is extremely effective at internal communications, including sharing company goals, timelines and plans.
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Communication gaps have the most significant impact on worker productivity:34% say that communication bottlenecks negatively impact their productivity at work; 30% of these adults said they do not have all the information needed to do their jobs; and 22% say that long, ineffective meetings negatively affect their productivity.
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Workers uncomfortable with management: 60% of the respondents say they are extremely or very comfortable sharing ideas, suggestions or feedback with colleagues; however, only 35% say they are extremely or very comfortable sharing ideas, suggestions or feedback with executive or C-level management.
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Respect for management low: While 52% say they respect their co-workers, 39% say they respect their managers. Twenty-nine percent say they learn a lot from co-workers, versus 19% from managers.
Source: Harris Interactive/Yammer
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