Silvia Neumann, digital employee experience manager at Vodafone, considers the crucial importance of communication skills in tech-driven organisations.

In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving technological landscape, the importance of having individuals with strong communication skills within a technology organisation cannot be overstated. While technical expertise is undoubtedly crucial, the ability to effectively communicate ideas, collaborate with team members, and convey complex information to non-technical stakeholders and users is equally vital for the success of any tech-driven enterprise.

When communication meets technology

First and foremost, individuals with excellent communication skills can bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams. In a technology organisation, it is common for developers, engineers, and IT professionals to work alongside internal communications, HR, sales, and customer support teams. Effective communication ensures that everyone is on the same page, leading to better collaboration and a more cohesive work environment.

When companies highly investing in new apps, automation and GenAI in the workplace, enabling the employees to use the new technology is paramount for the success of their investment. Having a team that works in Technology that can translate the users’ needs into deliverables and empowers the workforce with digital dexterity becomes an intrinsic part of the operation. Communication should not be a second thought, it should be fully integrated in the development and the delivery process of any employee-impacting technology.

Adoption and knowledge sharing

A significant advantage of having people with strong communication skills in a technology organisation is their ability to facilitate knowledge sharing. In the tech industry, staying up-to-date with the latest trends, tools, and best practices is essential. With the help of professionals that can facilitate the change and adoption of new services will bring the ROI on new services as users better understand how to use and apply the tools to their working patterns.

Very often the challenge on the adoption of a new app or service is not related to the communication that something new is there, the key message should always focus on the user: ‘how will I benefit from the usage of this app/service?’ Therefore, a proper plan of communication and engagement with a holistic view of the service is necessary – not only for the launch but also to continuously facilitate the transfer of knowledge from the technical team to the users, as technology continuously evolves.

Also, the communication professionals will foster peer-to-peer knowledge exchange enabling collaboration and immediately applicable use cases and solutions, so the whole organisation can profit from each other’s experience.

Digital dexterity in the workplace

This continuous communication from the technology organisation to the users do not only enhance the overall skill set of the workforce but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

The communication must happen both ways: the communication professionals need to listen to the feedback to the users and translate it into technology requirements for the Technology organisation and translate technology into common language focused on use cases and benefits of technical new services and features. Clear and concise communication can lead to higher employee satisfaction and talent retention, as the workforce feels more confident in the organisation's ability to address their needs and empowered to resolve any issues they may encounter.

In conclusion, while technical skills are undoubtedly important in a technology organisation, the value of strong communication skills should not be underestimated. Individuals who can effectively convey ideas, engage with stakeholders, and enable users to adopt new technology play a crucial role in driving the success of tech-driven enterprises. By prioritising communication skills alongside technical expertise, technology organisations can create a more cohesive, efficient, and innovative work environment.