Fortune 1,000 companies target communication skills

A recent communication survey of human resource directors at Fortune 1,000 companies reveals that, on average, companies are spending $300,000 a year on communication skills training for managers, according to a release from O'Connor Kenny Partners Inc., a Memphis, Tenn., communications firm.

"The focus on communication skills training is a result of the increasing pressure to find and keep employees," said Christine Luporter, director of communications, in the release. The survey was conducted by O'Connor Kenny Partners.

Between 1981 and 1991, 29 million American workers lost their jobs. More than 100 million Americans were affected. This decade continues to affect the way people think about their jobs today. According to the National Opinion Research Center, employees now have a work ethic driven more by desire for personal success than by a strong desire to help their companies succeed.

This change in attitude is directly tied to communications skills training for managers. Study after study shows that employees prefer to get their information from their manager. Companies are realizing that if managers can't communicate the information employees need to do their jobs, and what's in it for the employee, employees will leave.

What communication skills do companies think are important? According to the survey, 86 percent of the respondents say interpersonal skills. "This makes sense when you consider the fact that companies must now motivate workers by connecting their personal goals with the company's goals," Luporter said.

"How do you know what an employee's goals are if you don't listen to what she is saying? How can a manager effectively make the connection between what the company wants and what an employee wants if she has poor interpersonal skills?" she added.

Respondents ranked the importance of specific communication skills as follows:

?Listening, 86 percent

?Interpersonal skills, 86 percent

?Advising, 75 percent

?Small group communications, 73 percent

?Conflict management, 66 percent

?Persuasion/motivation, 63 percent

?Interviewing, 57 percent

?Writing, 50 percent

?Presentation skills, 45 percent

?Reading, 29 percent

Located in Memphis, Tenn., O'Connor Kenny Partners provides communications consulting on improving employee retention.