Up, Down, and Sideways

Studies consistently show that poor communication costs companies hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Most companies recognize this and want to plug that cash leak, which means that if we can be great communicators, we can be highly valuable in the marketplace. As strategic business partners, human resource (HR) professionals interact with executives, line managers, rank-and-file employees, and outside stakeholders. With this increased visibility comes an opportunity to influence the organization and its strategic objectives. This opportunity, however, depends in large part on the HR professional's ability to effectively communicate up (to superiors), down (to subordinates), and sideways (to peers). This business-savvy guide teaches how HR practitioners' wide range of responsibilities can only be effectively met with strong communication skills and this book strives to contribute to the goal of honing that essential ability.