Insights & Strategies for Service Providers | Dstny Blog

The real price tag of poor communication

Written by Elin Gunnarsson | Jan 26, 2026 8:48:51 AM

Between chats, emails, collaboration platforms and missed calls, it’s easy to feel that communication sometimes is more fragmented than ever. And if you’re not vigilant, it’s easy for teams to fall out of sync, especially for hybrid teams. And the thing is, poor communication isn’t just a pet peeve, it comes with a serious cost.

From lost productivity and project delays to employee stress and frustrated customers, the price tag is real.

 

Let’s talk numbers

According to research by The Economist Intelligence Unit:

  • 44% of employees say poor communication delays project completion.
  • 18% say it causes missed performance goals.
  • And 15% link it directly to lost sales.

Meanwhile, a Holmes report found that companies with effective communication enjoy 47% higher returns to shareholders. That’s not a small bump. That’s a strategic edge.

 

What does poor communication look like today?

It’s the five-message email chain that could’ve been a 30-second call. Or the missed handoff that sends customers repeating themselves. And the overlapping tools, platforms, and alerts that leave people wondering, “Where was that again?”

At its core, poor communication thrives when systems are fragmented, processes unclear, and human connection undervalued.

And in a hybrid work setting, those cracks widen fast.

 

Hybrid work raises the stakes

In traditional offices, miscommunication might have been caught over a desk chat or clarified in the hallway. But now? Those serendipitous syncs are gone. What’s left are digital silos and an increasing dependence on tools that aren’t always working together.

In fact, the average employee switches between apps more than 1,100 times a day (Harvard Business Review). Kind of exhausting, right.

When information is spread across too many places, confusion creeps in. Clarity goes out the window and performance takes a hit.

 

The emotional cost is real too

Apart from the actual output, communication is also about how people feel at work.

A lack of clear direction creates frustration, misunderstandings cause tension and unread messages spark anxiety.

And when people feel like they’re not heard, not informed, or not connected, it drives attrition.

In fact, 1 in 3 employees say they’ve left a job due to poor internal communication (Dynamic Signal).

So what’s the fix? Fewer tools? Well, not necessarily. Smarter integration? Absolutely! The answer isn’t “just another app.” It’s building a communication ecosystem where:

  • Conversations flow without friction
  • Teams have clarity—on tasks, goals, and each other
  • Voice, messaging, and apps are embedded in the tools people already use

Because when communication is truly seamless, work becomes not just more efficient—but more human.

 

Where voice makes the difference

Voice remains one of the most underrated business tools in the digital workplace. It’s faster, clearer, it conveys tone, urgency, and empathy in ways that text never can.

At Dstny, we believe voice isn’t “just a phone call.” It’s the shortcut to trust, resolution, and momentum, especially in moments that matter.

With our mobile first solutions that are integrated in the systems you already use today, we help teams move from:

Missed messages → Meaningful conversations

Information gaps → Connected customer journeys

Stalled workflows → Fast, confident action

 

Clarity isn’t optional, it’s a competitive advantage. In business where speed matters (and let’s face it, that basically all of them) miscommunication is a luxury no company can afford. It slows teams down, frustrates customers, and saps culture from the inside out.

 

The good news? It’s fixable

When you empower your teams with the right tools, built around the right conversations, things can really change. Because the companies that communicate best, are the ones who win.