COMMUNICATION'S ROLE IN BUSINESS SUCCESS
Effective communication supports organizational growth, survival, and future success -- especially in tough economic times like these. Employees need to make the connection between what they do every day and how that supports the business goal and contributes to an organization's success.

A recent study, sponsored by Deloitte & Touche and conducted by the International Association of Business Communicators, investigated the importance of communication practices and their role in business success. Interfaces within the organization -- between top management and employees, supervisors and employees, and company representatives and customers -- develop structure, trust, and credibility. The free flow of information gives managers and employees the confidence they need to do their jobs well and in support of the company goals. In contrast, the "grapevine," which is often rampant with incorrect information and overreactions, can interfere with company progress by encouraging doubt and mistrust.

"You can't not communicate," says Jim Shaffer in his book, The Leadership Solution. "It's going to happen whether you want it to or think it should. It's like the wind when you're sailing. You have the choice of ignoring it or managing it. Sailboats tend to sail better when you don't ignore the wind. Businesses tend to run better when you don't ignore communication."

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MIND YOUR COMPANY'S CHI
You might have heard of tai chi, a Chinese moving meditation devoted to harmonizing a person's life force, or "chi." You've probably also heard of feng shui, which claims that organizing a space in a certain way will maximize the flow of energy through that space, and through any person who lives or works in it. What you probably have not heard of is Org Chi -- the idea that an organization, like a person, has a life force. Keeping an organization vibrant and healthy, the theory goes, means paying attention to its chi.

"There is a point at which work passes into emotion, where it manufactures energy rather than drains it," writes Dale Dauten in his book, Laughing Warriors: How to Enjoy Killing the Status Quo. "Business at its best is about emotional energy. The Asian cultures have an advanced understanding of energy flows, as evidenced by acupuncture, tai chi and feng shui. I believe there is need for a similar appreciation of the energy flows in organizations, the organizational 'chi' (or 'life force') that determines the success of any endeavor."

There's not a lot of research on Org Chi right now. Dauten has partnered with Dr. Nancy Rizzo-Roberts, a specialist in energy flows in and around the human body, to begin to explore the idea. Could paying attention to chi ignite creativity and productivity? Stay tuned, as Dauten and Rizzo-Roberts' research progresses.

Sources: www.dauten.com, www.azhref.com

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THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT ON THE BOTTOM LINE
Management fads come and go -- consider Team-Based Leadership and Total Quality Management. It's easy to get jaded as the popularity of such miracle drugs for morale and productivity waxes and inevitably wanes. A lot of it begins to feel like mumbo-jumbo, to seem irrelevant. But, if you ignore the trend toward measuring and managing employee engagement, you'll be doing so at your own peril. More and more companies are finding that engagement directly impacts profits -- making it very relevant indeed.

Engagement, simply put, refers to how happy workers are to do their jobs. The Gallup Organization separates employees into three groups:

* engaged employees (your stars, who love what they do),

* not engaged employees (who show up and do just enough not to get fired), and

* actively disengaged employees, who are workplace poison.

Actively disengaged employees are like saboteurs; they show up to do little more than to grouse and to undermine others. Consider your last encounter with an engaged employee -- someone who went the extra mile. How likely are you to patronize this company again? Now consider your last encounter with an actively disengaged employee, like the clerk who was condescending and rude. How likely are you to patronize THIS company again? Isn't it more likely that you'll head across the street to their competition?

Communication is Key
Engagement has been shown to reduce costly turnover, increase customer satisfaction, and even increase workplace safety. You'll build a more engaged workforce by putting more effort toward employee development and self-direction, such as increasing training opportunities. Most important, however, is open and honest communication. Employees will see right through hollow promises; communication needs to be consistent and informative, and should flow all the way from the top down. Leaders need to be committed to communicating openly and often. If employees feel in the loop and understood, your chances of increasing the level of engagement in your company increase dramatically -- ultimately leading to more satisfied, loyal customers.

Source: "Get Engaged," Journal of Employee Communication Management at www.ragan.com