Managers searching for the best ways to improve office productivity may not have to look beyond the spoken word. According to a nationwide survey, executives believe that 14 percent of each 40-hour workweek is wasted due to poor communication between staff and managers-amounting to a stunning seven weeks per year. The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in highly skilled temporary office and administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 executives with the nation's 1,000 largest companies.

"Unclear communication not only results in errors and missed deadlines, but also lies at the root of many other serious workplace issues, such as low employee morale and poor job performance," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Managers should invest the necessary time to ensure that project goals and instructions are free of ambiguity and foster an environment that encourages the open exchange of ideas."