In the digital age—where AI is making its way into our daily lives—it seems we’re starting to forget something as obvious as it is necessary: The importance of communication.

Just like in every other area of life, communication affects productivity, well-being, and collaboration within a team. Therefore, it is essential to the success of any organization.

Data

43% of people have experienced burnout, stress, and fatigue due to communication problems in their company.
8% of companies have lost employees as a result of communication issues in their business.

According to a McKinsey report, well-connected teams that communicate effectively experience a 20% to 25% increase in productivity.

According to a 2022 MIT Sloan Management Review study, a toxic culture is the leading factor driving people to quit their jobs—even more than salary.

Elements of Communication

To understand the importance of communication in team performance, we need to break down the main components that comprise it:

• Sender: The one who produces and sends the message.
• Receiver: The one who receives and decodes the message.
• Message: The information being transmitted.
• Channel: The medium through which the message is sent.
• Code: The system of signs (language, gestures, etc.) used to encode and decode the message.
• Context: The physical and social environment in which communication takes place.

This is where a different kind of communication comes into play—one that can completely alter the meaning of words. It’s called nonverbal communication

Nonverbal Communication

It includes everything we communicate without using words—through gestures, behaviors, or sounds, among others.
Albert Mehrabian determined that 93% of the impact of our messages depends on nonverbal elements.
Every small movement can carry meaning and be interpreted very specifically by the receiver. This means we are constantly communicating—even when we think we aren’t, we still are.
All of this can easily lead to toxic communication, which negatively affects team members.

Toxic Communication

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE

Characterized by indirect messages, irony, and double meanings instead of clearly expressing what is meant.

• Example:
  A project leader says with a slight smile: “I see you submitted the report… at least you didn’t leave it to the last minute like always.”
• Effect:
  Creates resentment, confusion, and damages team trust.

 CONDESCENDING

Involves treating others as if they’re incompetent, disguising disdain with a kind tone.

• Example:
  Someone tells a new teammate: “Don’t worry, this is hard for someone with your level of experience, but you’ll get there.”
• Effect:
  Lowers team morale and discourages initiative.

MANIPULATIVE

Involves changing the message depending on convenience, hiding key information, or using ambiguous gestures to influence others indirectly.

• Example:
  A manager promises a raise if a goal is met, but later says: “I don’t recall saying that exactly… but I’m sure your effort will be rewarded in some other way.”
• Effect:
  Generates distrust and emotional exhaustion.

EVASIVE

Avoids discussing problems, ignores messages, or gives vague answers to avoid commitment.

• Example:
  Someone asks in a meeting: “What’s the priority this week?”
  And the boss replies with a smile: “Well… all projects are important, don’t you think?”
• Effect:
  Leads to confusion, low productivity, and frustration.

Impact Data

Gallup Study:
Employees working in environments with toxic communication report feeling less engaged with the company.
Estudio de FlexJobs:
62% leave their jobs due to a toxic company culture.

How to Foster a Healthy Environment

ASSERTIVENESS

Expressing opinions and emotions clearly and directly, without being aggressive or passive.

• Example:
  Instead of: “You always leave all the work to me.”
  Say: “I’d like us to divide the tasks more fairly.”

SETTING BOUNDARIES

Responding to passive-aggressive comments in a neutral way without falling into the same pattern.

• Example:
  If someone says to a new colleague: “Didn’t expect you to finish that so fast.”
  Respond calmly: “Yes, I planned it well to avoid delays.”

READING NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Learning to interpret microexpressions and gestures to detect inconsistencies in messages.

• Example:
  If someone says: “Yes, sure, I agree,” but frowns and avoids eye contact, they may not be telling the truth.

ESTABLISH AGREEMENTS

Define basic rules for interactions, such as avoiding sarcasm in meetings or giving constructive feedback.

• Example:
  The team sets clear interaction guidelines to avoid misunderstandings and foster a healthy environment.
• Effect:
  This agreement helps significantly reduce internal conflict and improves communication flow.

Conclusion

Communication is primitive, basic, and essential. That’s why we must pay special attention to how we interact with our colleagues.

As we’ve seen in this article, several studies show a direct relationship between communication style and the satisfaction of people within an organization. Therefore, beyond technical training, it’s crucial for every team member to be mindful of their communication—because it can be the difference between a company’s success or failure.