Communication is the most sought-after skill, and there's a good reason for this trend — the shift towards hybrid and remote work makes effective communication across different channels, platforms, and locations key to business success. This article highlights three trends that are affecting communication today. 

Does the way we communicate at work really matter? Thousands of employers around the world believe so.

For the second consecutive year, communication skills secured the top spot in LinkedIn's highly anticipated Most In-Demand Skills 2024 report.

According to the report's findings, those who received the most recruiter InMail's (were head-hunted on LinkedIn) or were hired recently, listed communication skills as one of their top skills in their LinkedIn profile. Furthermore, communication was a recurring theme for desired skills, in job adverts and person specifications across LinkedIn's job board.

Most importantly, the report noted that because we have moved into the hybrid working model, which is being more commonly adapted globally, employees are increasingly communicating and collaborating across an ever-expanding range of channels and platforms. "Since in-person collaboration is no longer the default, effective communication from company and team leadership across channels helps connect, motivate, and inspire your teams," the report went on to say.

Key Trends Shaping Communication In The Workplace

Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, it's essential that as leaders, managers, and aspiring professionals, we develop our skills, particularly soft skills such as communication, which are often robust against job disruption caused by AI. To do this requires some awareness of key factors that are playing a critical role within our organizations and which inherently affect the way we communicate and collaborate each day.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Since the proverbial AI Boom that started towards the end of 2022, artificial intelligence has already revolutionized the way we communicate internally and externally within the context of business. Tools such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, for example, help us to collaborate more efficiently and clearly.

AI helps us to effectively articulate what we need to say, ensuring communications are streamlined and their data is readily available when creating documents, as in the case with Copilot.

Even with video conferencing software, there are AI tools such as Grain, that take notes and create brief and detailed transcripts and meeting actions during and after meetings. This allows for ease of communication for projects, and transcripts like these can be shared with co-workers or stakeholders if one of the planned attendees is absent.

2. Mobile, Remote, And Hybrid Work

Another noticeable trend that is disrupting communication within the workplace is that of remote working. This comes with this own set of challenges, as we will need to rely even more on collaboration platforms to ensure communication is delivered in a timely manner, as if we were in a physical office environment.

Additionally, leaders and managers have a duty to ensure that cybersecurity is upheld and clear remote working boundaries are put in place, so that sensitive information being communicated between two parties does not reach unauthorized eyes. This can be a tricky situation, as often when employees are working from home or on a mobile basis in a café or on the commute, data could be unintentionally exposed.

Another challenge that needs to be addressed when considering communication in remote or hybrid settings, is ensuring that everyone feels involved and that all employees are fully engaged. Those who are working from home should not feel left out, or that their presence, ideas, or contributions do not matter. Managers and leaders need to be intentional about creating an environment in which team meetings are structured in a way that engages everyone, regardless of their presence in the office.

3. Diversity And Inclusion

The final trend that we see emerging, as relates to communication skills within the workplace, is that of diversity and inclusion. All employees should feel that their voice is heard; and beyond this, your communication style should be adapted to each co-worker, team member, or stakeholder.

To do this, consider each person's background, culture, and even their age. For example, we've already witnessed the disruptions that are caused within workplaces because multiple generations do not understand each other, resulting in employees feeling underappreciated, unrecognized, or misunderstood.

Embracing inclusivity allows you to become more competitive in your industry and penetrate your market, because you are fostering an atmosphere in which fresh ideas and perspectives from varied sources can flow.

Undoubtedly, developing one's communication skills and improving your communication as a leader plays a critical role in 2024, not only for developing one's own career, but for fostering positive and productive work relationships, creating a healthy work environment, and enabling you to motivate, mentor, and be inspired by others.

This article was written by Rachel Wells from Forbes and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.