Published Paper Details:

This research presents a detailed examination of communication practices within various workplace environments in the city of Mysuru, with the objective of identifying existing challenges, evaluating their impact on employee engagement, and proposing actionable strategies to enhance communication effectiveness. The study surveyed 50 employees from diverse functional areas such as human resources, finance, IT, sales, operations, and administration, ensuring a well-rounded perspective on communication across organizational levels. The findings reveal a strong consensus on the fundamental importance of communication in maintaining smooth operations, fostering collaboration, and achieving organizational goals, with 91.7% of participants affirming its critical role. Despite this recognition, 75% of respondents reported encountering significant communication-related challenges at their workplaces. The most common issues included lack of message clarity, frequent misunderstandings, and insufficient feedback mechanisms. These problems not only disrupted workflows but also negatively influenced interpersonal relationships, especially between subordinates and supervisors, with 55% reporting adverse effects on their rapport with management. Moreover, the study uncovered a direct link between poor communication and employee attrition, as 60% indicated that communication failures contributed to their decision to leave or consider leaving a job. Inadequate formal training in communication skills, discomfort with digital communication tools, and dissatisfaction with meeting structures were also cited as major barriers to effective interaction. Remote work environments added further complications, with 50% of respondents stating that the lack of face-to-face interaction and non-verbal cues impeded communication. The overall satisfaction with communication within organizations was moderate, averaging 2.9 on a 5-point scale. These findings point to a pressing need for improvement. Based on the analysis, the study recommends implementing regular communication skills training, developing structured and inclusive feedback systems, enhancing digital literacy, improving managerial communication, and fostering a workplace culture centered around openness, clarity, and collaboration. Ultimately, the study emphasizes that effective communication is not just a soft skill but a strategic asset that significantly influences employee retention, productivity, morale, and the long-term success of an organization. Addressing the identified gaps through deliberate, organization-wide efforts can lead to a more connected, efficient, and resilient workforce.