On the other hand, according to a recent report from Axios HQ<\/a>, communicating poorly can cost a business anywhere between $10,000 and $55,000 per employee per year, depending on their annual salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But why is it so easy for misunderstandings to come up, and is there a way to avoid miscommunication in the workplace?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we will help you deal with miscommunication by: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready? Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n Miscommunication in the workplace occurs when coworkers convey the message poorly<\/strong> or misinterpret the intent and meaning of the message conveyed to them. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, this can potentially lead to internal conflicts<\/a> and employee dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of frequency, miscommunication happens more often than you probably think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to research by Notta, a whopping 100% of surveyed business leaders and knowledge workers experience miscommunication at least once a week<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though you might be tempted to think that everything gets sorted out in the end, long-term miscommunication can have a profound effect on your business<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Secure, real-time communication for professionals. Discuss, share & collaborate.<\/p>\n\n The effects of miscommunication are real and not to be taken lightly. Miscommunication in the workplace can lead to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing the undeniable cost of miscommunication in the workplace, let\u2019s try to unpack the most common causes of miscommunication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Miscommunication in some form can happen during any type of communication situation<\/a> at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to prepare for this possibility, let’s take a look at some of the main general causes of miscommunication in the workplace, so you can recognize and address them properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a Forbes article<\/a>, 42% of survey respondents cited different communication styles as a leading cause of miscommunication at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The research Forbes cites is based on Mark Murphy and his team\u2019s research, which recognized 4 distinct communication styles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s try to put miscommunication due to different communication styles into perspective by examining a hypothetical scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s say an intuitive manager <\/strong>tells an analytical employee<\/strong> to come up with an app mockup to present to the upper management. The intuitive manager, who favors communication without \u201cfluff,\u201d gives the analytical employee directions without focusing on the details, just showcasing the broad idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the analytical employee, who favors hard data and facts, might get confused as to how to see this through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The intuitive manager might request an \u201cinitial framework mocked up and ready to go early next week\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, the analytical employee might pose questions like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If impatient or too busy, the intuitive manager might even walk away thinking an agreement has been made, leaving the analytical employee confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the easiest solutions for major communication style differences like this is to consult a mediator <\/strong>\u2014 someone who will listen to both sides and try to find a compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To learn more about the differences between various styles of communication, make sure to check out our comprehensive guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizational silos are another direct cause of miscommunication at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizational silos are unofficially isolated groups of employees that exclude team members or entire teams for various reasons. When teams operate in isolation like this, they create separate \u201cinformation bubbles” or information silos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isolation often directly leads to several forms of miscommunication, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Needless to say, this is a recipe for a catastrophically ineffective workplace, where miscommunication is an hourly occurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to deal with this hypothetical situation is to prevent silos from forming in the first place, by building a successful company culture<\/a> that favors open, transparent communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1<\/strong> Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re struggling with silos structure in your workplace, you should check out our blog about identifying and breaking down this type of work communication: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Psychological barriers can be temporary or persistent mental and emotional states that get in the way of effective communication<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They are often the result of a toxic workplace. According to The American Psychological Association<\/em><\/a>, more than 15% of workers reported experiencing what they characterized as a somewhat or very toxic workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psychological barriers often stem from: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1<\/strong> Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Psychological barriers represent only one of all possible communication-related obstacles at work. To look into minimizing misunderstandings from another perspective, check out our blog:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Communicate without barriers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned, one of the most common causes for miscommunication in the workplace is the difference in communication styles. Since modern companies are usually multigenerational environments, this is especially evident across generational divides<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from preferring different communication channels<\/a>, different generations simply communicate differently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, digital natives such as Millennials and Gen Z are often known to use emojis in professional settings, whereas other generations refrain from using them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Paired with contemporary phrases the older generation may not be familiar with, the communication approach of a younger generation may sometimes lead to misunderstandings with older colleagues (and vice versa) \u2014 which can have negative effects on interpersonal relationships<\/a> and business.<\/p>\n\n\n Poor listening skills are also one of the primary causes of miscommunication because they create a gap between the message that is sent and the message that is received. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They can be accidental or a result of poor attention, but their effects are detrimental nonetheless. When we fail to listen properly, we aren’t just missing words, but also the full meaning, context, emotion, and intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This forces poor listeners to fill in the blanks with assumptions, and that\u2019s exactly where miscommunication happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common types of poor listening that cause misunderstandings are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To combat the effects of poor listening skills, the main goal should be for the listener to understand the fundamentals of active listening, after getting the hang of the basics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1<\/strong> Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To thoroughly study, develop, and master the fine art of active listening, make sure to read up on our blog post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the more obvious factors in miscommunication are unjustified assumptions known as stereotyping<\/strong> and conscious or unconscious biases<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both of these can occur in a multitude of ways, but the one thing they have in common is that they represent mental filters <\/strong>that distort the message before it’s even fully received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of hearing what is actually said, listeners who stereotype hear what they expect to hear based on their internal assumptions. This creates a gap between reality and perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, biases are unconscious shortcuts our brains use to make decisions faster. However, in communication, these shortcuts often lead us down the wrong path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common types of biases in the workplace include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, there’s no easy fix for stereotyping and biases other than thorough extensive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since ever more companies are conducting business globally or have team members from all around the world, awareness about cultural diversity in the workplace is becoming even more relevant than before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A lack of awareness can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, different cultures imply different holidays (among other things). Not being aware of that can lead to miscommunication, like the one shown in the example below. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Connect your diverse workplace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n When working in multicultural environments (virtual or not), we should take into consideration other cultures and make an effort to get familiar with their customs, traditions, and communication habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is why effective cross-cultural communication<\/a> is key to a better atmosphere in the workplace and a safe road to avoiding miscommunication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another major cause of miscommunication in the workplace is undercommunication<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not having enough information about a project, task, or any other vital component of business life leads employees to assume what is going on. Apart from misunderstandings, this is also how rumors that spread through the grapevine<\/a> are born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of that, many undercommunication misunderstandings can easily be avoided, which makes them all the more frustrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, take the example of remote teams who work in multiple time zones<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In their case, it\u2019s important to explicitly state when a certain meeting will take place<\/strong>. Is the meeting at 9 a.m. CST or EST? These kinds of mix-ups are avoidable if you only pay more attention to communication in the workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, one of the most difficult miscommunication sources to handle is poor leadership<\/strong>. All of the causes of miscommunication we mentioned so far are further amplified coming from a leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since effective downward communication<\/a> starts from the managers, their job is to motivate their staff to be more productive and creative. They are expected to set the tone, standards, and systems for how information flows within a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership has the ability to make or break the entire organization. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If there is a lack of successful downward communication, the objectives of the company may be unclear to the employees, which can demoralize them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what poor leadership looks like as a primary miscommunication contributor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If these leadership errors occur, employees can be left feeling confused and unmotivated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly, there is no easy solution for this other than upper management stepping in or the problematic leader recognizing their weaknesses and working on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, with the biggest causes covered, let\u2019s move on to the tips on how to avoid miscommunication in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think you\u2019re doomed to make mistakes that inevitably lead to miscommunication, don\u2019t worry. There are some ways to avoid miscommunication altogether \u2014 here are the 6 best ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, never assume anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though often frowned upon, it\u2019s sometimes better to overcommunicate<\/a> than to think we have communicated or understood everything necessary for effective team collaboration<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The trouble with assuming what other people think is the fact that we all have a different horizon of understanding<\/a>, that is \u201cthe range of vision that includes everything that can be seen from a particular vantage point\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This horizon depends on our previous experiences and helps us interpret new situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since we don\u2019t all share the same horizon of understanding, we can easily come to the wrong conclusions in conversations with our coworkers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial to overcommunicate with our colleagues, as well as put ourselves in their shoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Only then can we hope to grasp the true meaning of our colleagues\u2019 words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When conversing with our colleagues in physical space, it\u2019s easier to take into account their body language and specific nonverbal cues. It\u2019s important to pay attention to this part of communication if we want to avoid misunderstandings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, to avoid miscommunication in an online world, digital body language<\/a> should not be neglected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our search for ways to solve workplace miscommunication, we reached out to Allie Gallinger<\/a>, a speech-language pathologist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She highlighted that nonverbal communication is often lacking in the modern workplace: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf companies are using instant messaging and email as their primary method of communication, there is likely a lot of nonverbal communication being missed. To be more specific, one cannot see another person’s facial expression and body language and cannot hear a person’s tone of voice.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n This can lead to plenty of issues but it\u2019s not an insurmountable obstacle, as she went on to explain: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you send or receive a message that simply says, \u2018Thanks,\u2019 without nonverbal communication, this can be interpreted as someone being angry. One way to solve this difficulty is to be explicit over instant messaging and email. <\/em>Say what you mean, mean what you say, and use punctuation to make things very clear.<\/em><\/strong> Also, where possible, speak in person! It is much harder to have miscommunications when you can see and hear a person.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n For this very reason, it\u2019s best to schedule either live meetings or online meetings with mandatory video. This way, you can take in the body language and subtle nonverbal cues of the people you are speaking to, which makes understanding communication nuances much more easy and often prevents miscommunication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hold video meetings with Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In her TedEd talk How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it)<\/em><\/a>, Katherine Hampsten highlights the importance of active listening in an effort to avoid miscommunication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are her tips: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you follow this advice closely, you will be practicing active listening, which will help you avoid the majority of misunderstandings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the ways to avoid miscommunication is to openly discuss expectations<\/a> with your coworkers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you start a new project, you should set clear goals and schedules, so everyone can adjust their expectations. Then, you need to listen to all the questions from your coworkers and patiently answer them. Only once you\u2019ve done that can you be sure that you\u2019ve successfully avoided any misunderstandings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, you\u2019ll have to keep communicating clearly throughout the entire project \u2014 especially if some changes come up. Change is always stressful, so make sure to aim to find the best way to communicate a change<\/a>, regardless of what it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the very least, you could reduce the negative feedback by taking your time to approach the situation carefully and being open to listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the ways you can foster clarity and transparency is to communicate to multiple people at once, through various communication channels \u2014 including business messaging apps<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, everyone will get notified simultaneously, and you can refine your future announcements by getting feedback immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there are any questions, it\u2019s likely that at least one of your team members will ask for clarification. In turn, you will know if you need to work communicating more clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n Keep your team updated with Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Choosing the right communication channel is a critical step in preventing miscommunication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The core principle here is to match the channel to the message and its importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, although a quick DM in Pumble<\/a>, a team communication app by CAKE.com<\/a>, works perfect for a quick update, it’s a terrible way to handle a sensitive performance review<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n To avoid miscommunication, analyze your message in terms of sensitivity, complexity, and urgency.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some general guidelines for choosing the most appropriate communication channel are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"Miscommunication-in-the-Workplace-cover\"](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Miscommunication-in-the-Workplace-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhat is miscommunication in the workplace?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-1@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\nWhat are the effects of miscommunication in the workplace?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What are the causes of miscommunication in the workplace?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#1 Different communication styles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Different](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Different-Communication-Styles.png\")
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#2 Organizational silos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#3 Psychological barriers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#4 Generational differences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/A-misunderstanding-due-to-the-cultural-differences.png\")
#5 Poor listening skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#6 Stereotyping and biases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#7 Cultural differences and lack of awareness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Cultural](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Cultural-differences-in-celebrating-certain-holidays.png\")
#8 Undercommunication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#9 Poor leadership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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6 Tips on preventing miscommunication in the workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tip #1: Never assume anything \u2013 overcommunicate instead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip #2: Pay attention to nonverbal communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Allie](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Allie-Gallinger.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTip #3: Practice active listening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Tip #4: Master the art of clarity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Immediate-Feedback.png\")
Tip #5: Choose the right communication channel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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