How has Technology changed Communication in the Workplace?

There is no disputing that the single most significant invention in the 20th century had to be the computer. It started a wave of amazing and life changing improvements in technology from Atari to PlayStation and the evolution of old-fashioned tube televisions to the current best, Smart TV’s. The changes are quite evident in our daily lives, including our work lives; most significantly in the way we communicate. Fifty years ago, operating a business was all about building relationships, and having “face time” with clients and colleagues.

In the workplace, communication is mainly done via conference call, email and sometimes even video-conference. It has evolved from the fax machine and simple email to new online technologies that allow for better collaboration. Now we have mobile phones, tablets, and web-conferencing and social networks. Communication is instantaneous, simple and cheap. We can transmit documents, videos and images anywhere in the world, instantly and at no cost. You need never be out of reach (unless you want to be, of course).

Technology allows employees to work effectively with people anywhere in the world, as if you are virtually in the room with them. This relatively new phenomenon of a virtual workplace is making it easier to collaborate and get things done.

Here are the top three ways in which technology has changed workplace communication, for the better!

1. Collaboration. There are many times when team members cannot be in the office physically. New technology offers a number of different methods that allow for easy collaboration to facilitate continued discussion amongst working teams. Web based solutions like Asana or Trello, are great for project management and the ability to video-conference allows those who are off site to be a part of the team whether they are 10 minutes or 10 time zones away.
2. Productivity. One of the best results of improved technology is better productivity. The use of computers to oversee certain operational or technically driven priorities, frees up time of the employees who would normally oversee these tasks. For many organizations it has driven down costs as well.
3. Interaction and participation. This is seen through the impact of social media in business. It provided businesses with another platform to interact with customers, for marketing and promotions and to share information. Social media gives consumers a voice that they previously did not have, and now organizations can capitalize on this new opportunity to secure positive feedback on their products and services.

Although many have complained about the rapid infestation of technology in the workplace, it has now become the norm in their daily lives. With so many workers around the world, having the ability to work in virtual teams allows businesses to grow and flourish in a different way. As a result, many business relationships do depend on technology to thrive. This is not a bad thing — as long they’re using the right technologies in the right ways and evolving to allow technology to help their business, not hinder it.

Below we list the top ten job skills that every viable candidate should have.

Not all jobs call for the same skills, but for every career path there are core skills that every new hire should possess. Whether the vacancy is for a millwright, entry level sales person, a marketing manager or an engineer, those main core skills should be at the forefront. Not only do they reveal growth potential, but they will also give an indication as to how flexible a new hire will be, especially as roles and responsibilities change or shift due to organizational growth or downsizing.

1. Communication

Employees at any level should be able to effectively communicate and share their ideas clearly and confidently in a verbal or written capacity. Good use of language, proper grammar and sentence structure are required when one of the most common forms of business communications is through electronic mail. Honing this one skill and mastering it will put any good candidate at the top of the list.

2. Works effectively in a team.

Team work may sound cliché, but it is essentially the backbone of any successful organization Team work doesn’t simply mean that every person executes their role; it is the ability to execute projects from start to finish by leveraging the skills of your team and ensuring that each is used to its best ability for the success of the organization. A strong team that is in sync, can build empires from the ground up…without a strong team, the road to success can be long and full of obstacles.

3. Leadership

Good team work cannot be achieved without great leadership skills. Someone who possesses the ability to harness, and utilize successfully, the skills of their peers is a great asset. Good leadership requires an individual to make the tough decisions and be able to execute and deliver using the resources available to them.

4. Self-Motivated

An individual that can motivate themselves, especially in difficult situations or environments, is a great asset due to their ability to get the job done despite it. It is a combination of determination to not only get things done and make things happen, but to also constantly look for better ways of doing things. Self-motivation is key to achieving a goal or project when you lack support or resources – making it a great skill to have.

5. Time Management

Successful time management is a great skill for any potential new hire due to the sometimes fluctuating amount of work an employee has to complete. Manage time effectively, prioritising tasks and being able to work to deadlines is a skill that not everyone can master.

Rounding out the top ten are being flexible, having good organization skills, working well under pressure, having a good work ethic and finally – a positive attitude. Choosing a candidate to fulfill a new role is not an easy process and can sometimes take a few rounds of interviews and testing to eventually choose the right candidate. A new hires foundation should be built on these dynamic and versatile skills, they may not possess them all at the beginning but over time they can learn to adapt and grow by mastering their existing skills and learning new ones.