Everything we do in life requires some type of communication.  We communicate at work.  We communicate at home.  We communicate when we recreate.  In fact, the only time we're not communicating is when we're sleeping.  Most of us, I'd say, are expert communicators by the time we're in junior high.  We've had years of experience in all types of situations and we do just great.

Then along comes a problem in the business and we say, “He's not a very good communicator.”  Now he doesn't seem to have any trouble communicating with the secretary at the water cooler.  And he does just fine communicating with his buddies on the golf course, so why would we draw the conclusion he doesn't communicate well?

More often the problem is a lack of respect, or selfishness, or an unwillingness to listen, or a desire to be the chief not the indian, or any one of a million other different reasons.  But I think the problem is seldom one of a lack of ability to communicate. 

That's why sending employees to seminars where they learn to communicate better has so little impact.  If you really want to fix the behavior, you first have to find the root cause.  Is it really a communication problem?  I seriously doubt it.  And if you continue to treat the symptoms and not the problem, you'll never get where you're trying to go.  It's appropriate to say, “What is the real cause of this behavior?” and don't take the first answer that comes to your mind.  Dig deep, until you are certain you know exactly what the problem is.  Then treat the problem and the symptoms will disappear.