Leaders may think their messages are crystal clear, but the reality on the frontline tells a different story. 

According to our most recent Deskless Report, just 74% of frontline employees find workplace communication helpful, significantly lower than the 89% of managers and executives who feel the same. This disconnect between leadership’s perception and the actual frontline experience is a significant roadblock to effective workplace communication.

When vital information fails to reach employees, they miss out on feeling connected to the company culture and vision. More importantly, they don’t feel like valued members of the team.

So, how to improve communication in the workplace and bridge this gap? Frequent recognition, consistent feedback, psychological safety and overcoming existing barriers are important pieces of the puzzle, ensuring every employee feels seen, heard and part of the bigger picture.

Why your frontline needs a frontline-first approach to effective workplace communication

Frontline employees interact with customers, make sales and keep operations running smoothly. But too often, they’re left out of the loop when it comes to what’s happening in the company. Our Deskless Report found that nearly a quarter of frontline workers feel they don’t have the information they need to do their jobs effectively. How can we expect the frontline to excel without a clear understanding of company updates, product knowledge or worse, the “why” behind their work?

The cost of poor communication

Failing to prioritize frontline communication has serious consequences. It impacts employee morale, productivity and even customer satisfaction. When your frontline team feels disconnected and uninformed, it shows in their work, interactions with customers and, ultimately, hurts the bottom line.

Empowering your frontline to communicate effectively

To set your frontline up for success, you need a communication strategy that puts them first. This means clear, direct and consistent communication that reaches everyone, regardless of their role or location. 

It also means investing in your managers and giving them the tools and training they need to be strong communicators who can maintain relationships with their teams.

Common communication barriers in the modern workplace—and how to overcome them

Today’s workplaces are more diverse and dynamic than ever, with many frontline-facing organizations having teams across multiple locations, states, countries and time zones. 

While tech makes it easier to connect, it has also introduced new challenges to communicating effectively:

Information overload

Emails, instant messages, mandatory video calls, notifications—every “high priority” update competes for attention on the frontline. This sense of constant urgency can be overwhelming. 

Organizations need to help employees regain control of their digital environments. This means establishing clear guidelines and expectations for different communication channels so everyone knows when and how to use them. Invest in communication platforms that allow employees to filter and prioritize information based on relevance and importance. Arguably most importantly, enable employees to set boundaries and manage their notifications, whether setting specific times for checking emails or muting notifications during focused work periods. Addressing information overload head-on is a great communication practice that creates a more focused and productive work environment.

Language and cultural differences

While diversity brings a wealth of perspectives and ideas, it also requires special attention to communication and sensitivity. 

Equip your employees with the tools and knowledge to navigate cross-cultural communication confidently and without hindering team collaboration. You can provide training and cultural sensitivity workshops to help bridge linguistic gaps and foster understanding of different communication styles. When barriers arise, encourage them to use translation tools and services, such as content translation software, to ensure clear and accurate communication.

Multigenerational workforces

Bridge generational gaps by cultivating a culture of understanding and respect for different communication styles. Encourage employees to appreciate the strengths and experiences that each group brings to the table to foster effective team communication across a multigenerational workforce.  

Provide training on communication methods, preferences and tools, helping employees understand how to communicate in the ways their colleagues prefer. Foster open dialogue and employee feedback across generations, creating opportunities for employees to share their perspectives and learn from each other. 

Lack of reliable communication tools 

Frontline workers may not always have access to the same technology or communication tools as their desk-based counterparts, leading to missed messages and information gaps. 

To ensure equitable access, give all employees reliable mobile devices to use in the flow of work.

The foundation of a connected workforce? Effective communication skills for all

Building up your entire team to become great communicators is an ongoing journey. It requires refining skills through continuous learning and a commitment to changing every employee’s behavior. But the payoff can be huge—developing good communication skills is the foundation of a connected and collaborative workforce. 

Improved communication can help staff members build stronger internal and external relationships and strengthen their problem-solving capabilities to navigate challenges more effectively. 

Some essential skills to focus on:

Active listening

Active listening means truly being present in conversations—not just waiting for your turn to speak. Pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues, maintain eye contact, ask questions to clarify uncertainties and take a moment to reflect on what you’ve heard to ensure everyone’s on the same page.

Clear and concise expression

We all know how frustrating it can be to decipher a confusing email before responding or to sit through a group meeting presentation that drones on and on. A clear and concise communication style, whether in writing or verbally, is a valuable asset. For fewer misunderstandings, use straightforward language, logically structure your thoughts and avoid jargon that might confuse others.

Nonverbal awareness

Communication isn’t just about your words but also how you say them. Body language, tone of voice and facial expressions all affect how a message is perceived. Be mindful of these nonverbal cues to ensure you convey the intended message.

Empathy and emotional intelligence

Connecting with others emotionally is key to building trust and understanding. Empathy allows you to see things from another person’s perspective, which can lead to fewer workplace conflicts and contribute to a supportive, positive work environment. 

Giving and receiving feedback

Feedback is an essential part of growth, both personally and professionally. When you’re in the position to give feedback, focus on being specific, actionable and constructive. And when receiving feedback, try to approach it with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Frame it as an opportunity to improve. After all, knowing how to improve communication in the workplace is a continuous process of learning and development.

Strategies for how to improve communication in the workplace

It’s not enough to simply talk to (or at) your employees. Effective communication starts with a strategic approach that fosters connection, clarity and employee engagement. 

If you’re wondering how to improve communication in the workplace, here are four strategies to get you started:

1. Take manager feedback skills beyond the basics

An effective communicator can go beyond a “good job” or “needs improvement.” Managers need the skills and insights to deliver motivating, constructive feedback that drives real growth. 

You can make feedback a core component of your management development programs by incorporating ongoing training, reinforcement and practice opportunities. And don’t forget to talk to your frontline employees—promoting two-way feedback gives employees a chance to provide insight about their managers in your pulse checks and engagement surveys to ensure transparency and alignment and help identify areas for improvement.

2. Conduct regular check-ins with leaders

Regular check-ins between managers and employees are essential for building strong relationships, fostering open communication and driving performance. But they often feel like a formality. (It’s telling that only 73% of employees believe these meetings help them improve their performance.) To make check-ins a valuable use of time for all parties, ditch the “going through the motions” approach and get strategic.

Implement quarterly face-to-face meetings with every team member—not just those in the onboarding phase—and leverage your HCM system to automate scheduling. You can also provide conversation templates to guide productive discussions focused on growth. Don’t forget to document key takeaways, feedback and action items to track progress. These structured check-ins will feel less like a chore and more like essential opportunities to discuss big picture ideas, focus on development and provide support.

3. Build trusted, two-way communication channels

Many organizations struggle to create channels for open communication between leadership and frontline employees. In fact, in both 2022 and 2024, The Deskless Report research found that 37% of frontline workers cite “fractured communication” as a major challenge.

To foster a more connected workforce, get creative with your communication strategies. Instead of relying on managers to trickle information down the line,  use digital communication tools to deliver key messages straight to employees and ensure everyone receives critical updates promptly and consistently. 

Managers also play an important role in improving workplace communication. They can leverage weekly team meetings and shift huddles to discuss important announcements, answer questions and gather feedback. Pulse surveys and online forums can provide a safe space for employees to share their thoughts and ideas with leadership, but always maintain anonymity if promised to encourage honest communication.

4. Deliver the right messages at the right times with the help of AI

Overflowing inboxes and endless notifications—it’s no wonder that employees are struggling to keep up with the constant flow of information. Learning how to improve communication in the workplace requires a multi-faceted, modern workplace communication strategy, and a key component of that is leveraging the power of AI. 

Think of AI as your partner in clear communication. AI-powered tools can help you summarize lengthy documents, translate them into different languages and ensure information is easily digestible for your frontline teams. AI can also help you schedule communication campaigns so important information is delivered and reinforced at the right times and through the right channels. It can even prioritize key messages so employees know exactly where to focus their limited time and attention to stay informed and engaged.

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Gearing up for 2025, every frontline employee needs effective communication skills to contribute to a successful business and improved productivity. Since frontline teams are typically on-site and prohibited from working remotely like many of their corporate counterparts, leaders need to reach them with creative solutions like instant messaging that can help bridge the gap and make communication seamless, especially across different locations or departments.

Poor communication can create a whole mess of problems, from missed deadlines to low morale. But the good news is you can fix poor communication! Improving workplace communication is worth the investment because strong communication builds effective teams that are better able to make informed decisions, improve their interpersonal skills, feel more prepared to handle difficult conversations, make the most of team meetings and serve customers with ease.