Beyond Soft Skills: Why Communication Is a Performance Lever

Poor communication isn’t just frustrating—it’s expensive. And most organisations underestimate just how much it’s costing them.

In many teams, the signs are easy to miss: unclear emails, repeated meetings, duplicated work, and constant follow-ups. Yet, when you zoom out, the numbers tell a different story. Studies suggest employees lose up to 60+ minutes a day clarifying tasks or fixing misunderstandings. Multiply that across teams, and you’re looking at a significant drain on productivity, revenue, and morale.

This is something Sharmini Suthan often highlights in the work BeInClarity does —communication isn’t a “soft skill” problem. It’s a business performance issue.

Where the Real Costs Show Up

The impact of poor communication compounds quickly:

• Lost productivity: Teams spend time reworking tasks or waiting on unclear instructions
• Delayed delivery: Projects stall when decisions are ambiguous or misaligned
• Rework costs: Fixing mistakes can cost 2–3x more than doing it right the first time
• Customer churn: Misalignment internally leads to inconsistent external experiences

Even worse, these issues rarely exist in isolation. One unclear brief can trigger a chain reaction across departments—marketing, operations, and sales all pulling in different directions.

The Hidden Bottlenecks

Communication gaps don’t just slow work—they create friction points across the organisation:

• Information silos between teams
• Decision-making delays due to vague messaging
• Duplicate efforts from lack of visibility
• Meetings that generate discussion but no action

Over time, this erodes trust and confidence. People disengage, not because they lack capability, but because they lack clarity.

Why L&D Must Step In

For L&D leaders, this is a high-impact opportunity. Communication sits at the heart of leadership, collaboration, and execution.

As Sharmini Suthan emphasises, organisations don’t need more communication—they need better communication systems and behaviours.

This approach goes beyond workshops, focusing on practical, workplace-driven interventions—helping teams build clarity, structure conversations, and align messaging across levels.

What Actually Works

Improving communication doesn’t require a complete overhaul. It starts with a few intentional shifts:

• Clarity first: Define outcomes, expectations, and next steps in every interaction
• Manager enablement: Equip leaders to communicate with structure and confidence
• Visible check-ins: Efficient check-ins to reduce duplication and confusion and increase visibility and opportunities
• Consistent rhythms: Regular check-ins that drive decisions, not just updates.

Programmes must be deliberately designed to embed these habits into daily workflows—so communication and connection improve where they matter most: on the job.

The Competitive Edge

Teams that communicate well don’t just avoid problems—they move faster, collaborate better, and deliver stronger results.

As Sharmini Suthan often puts it, clarity is a multiplier. When people understand what’s needed, why it matters, and how to act, performance accelerates naturally.

Because in the end, the cost of poor communication isn’t just inefficiency—it’s lost potential.

FAQs: Communication in the Workplace

1. How can we quantify the cost of poor communication?
   Look at time lost to rework, project delays, extended meetings, and employee disengagement. These directly impact productivity and revenue.
2. Why do communication problems persist despite training?
   Because most training isn’t embedded into daily workflows. Without reinforcement and systems, old habits return quickly.
3. What role do managers play in improving communication?
   A critical one. Managers shape how information flows, how feedback is given, and how aligned teams are.
4. How does BeInclarity support organisations?
   beinclarity focuses on practical, workplace-based communication solutions—helping teams build clarity, reduce friction, and improve execution.
5. Where should L&D start?
   Start with identifying communication bottlenecks—then prioritise manager capability and clarity in everyday interactions.

Reach out to us as your guide to leadership soft skills training in Singapore. We do work in Better Conversation Skills Singapore, Communication Skills Training Singapore, Influence Skills Training and Leadership Training Workshop — all designed to help leaders thrive in the real moments that matter.