Causes And Complications Of Ineffective Communication In The Workplace

Collaboration can generally be defined as the process of working together among and with others in order to accomplish a shared goal. It’s noted that collaboration within the workplace can easily be implemented through workplace relationships, open communication lines, and the development of trust. Effective communication and collaboration is of vital importance within the workplace, as it aids with the level of commitment and completion of tasks. Ineffective or closed lines of communication can result in detrimental effects. This is especially true for healthcare organizations, as communication issues can hinder the care the patient requires, leading to potential harm to their health. Since healthcare organizations are complex, each decision

A prime example is the difference in mannerism in which doctors and nurses are trained to approach communication. Nurses are generally taught to be broad and narrative with their descriptions of patient conditions and clinical situations (Leonard et al., 2004). On the other hand, physicians tend to learn to be concise and efficient (Leonard et al., 2004). This can result in communication inconsistencies and cause delays during the process. By embedding standardized protocols and communication methods, it can help to lessen these differences. An example of miscommunication within the hospital setting could be based on if a nurse didn’t fully communicate a patient’s allergy to a particular type of medication to another nurse or physician. On the other hand, if the nurse properly informed another individual about the allergy, but the individual misheard or forgot, that could also result in detrimental effects. In addition, hierarchy within the healthcare organization can limit individuals from voicing their opinions and sharing their thoughts (Stordeur, D’Hoore, & Vandenberghe, 2001). Effective leaders can help by lessening the degree of power and authority from a few people to a larger range, in order to create a shared sense of power so the members feel willing to openly express themselves (Stordeur et al.,