Effective communication is the key to developing high-performance teams and has proven to be a decisive factor for organizational success. In corporate environments that understand new work relationships and new management formats, the ability to communicate well shifts from a desirable and known soft skill to a requirement for those who wish to build high-performance teams.

According to the report "The State of Business Communication 2023," conducted by Harris Poll for Grammarly, 72% of business leaders believe that effective communication has increased their teams' productivity, while 52% of knowledge workers share this opinion. The study, which interviewed 251 business leaders, also revealed that 60% of them believe that effective communication has been an important factor in increasing employee trust.

According toBia Nobrega, specialist in Human and Organizational Development, over the past 30 years, regardless of hierarchical level, oratory and the ability to convey information clearly are fundamental skills to ensure that all work groups operate harmoniously, productively, and focused on achieving exceptional results. "It is essential to reinforce the importance of clear, transparent, and efficient communication to ensure alignment between leaders and employees," she adds.

What makes good communication

Transparency is the foundation of a collaborative and trustworthy environment. Leaders who communicate openly and clearly avoid misunderstandings and create an environment where all team members feel comfortable expressing their ideas and concerns. This fosters trust, an essential element for team cohesion and engagement.

"Constructive feedback is also a fundamental tool for the continuous development of teams. When the leader communicates assertively the areas for improvement and at the same time recognizes the strengths, employees feel valued and motivated to improve their performance," he points out. For her, feedback, when well-structured, not only corrects mistakes but also encourages individual and collective growth.

Active listening is another key element for success in high-performance communication. A leader who knows how to listen demonstrates respect for their team's opinions and creates a space where people feel truly understood. This type of characteristic creates a space conducive to innovation and collaborative problem-solving.

It is worth noting that companies that invest in effective communication among their employees are able to achieve their goals more efficiently and maintain a high level of productivity. "This happens because, when there is clarity in guidelines, constant feedback, and a culture of active listening, employees tend to be more engaged, committed, and productive," adds the specialist.

Bia also reminds that leaders and managers must always improve their communication and expression skills, using oratory to persuade and, above all, inspire. "The ability to capture the listener's attention and convey messages in an objective and impactful way can be the difference between the success and failure of a team," he concludes.

A study conducted by TikTok and Vidmob, a leading global AI platform in creative performance that uses data analysis to drive marketing results for major brands, identified the key visual and creative elements, such as real people, direct connection, and brand integration, that drive the success of brand campaigns. More specifically, the research identifies the visual and creative elements that significantly drive engagement and purchase intent in the first six seconds of a TikTok ad.

Using AI-powered data analytics, Vidmob analyzed 1,678 ads and 7.3 billion impressions on videos posted and sponsored by brands on TikTok between January and October 2023.

TikTok, one of the main social media platforms at the moment with a user base of 82.2 million in Brazil, still faces challenges in effectively understanding digital advertising.For Vidmob's Latam Head, Miguel Caeiro, the study can facilitate the understanding of the advertising nuances present on the platform.

“This study represents a significant step forward in understanding the nuances of effective advertising on the platform, empowering marketers to make informed decisions and drive impactful campaign results. In today’s ever-evolving advertising landscape, understanding what drives engagement on TikTok is critical for marketers looking to maximize their ROI,” said Caeiro.

The study by Vidmob and TikTok presents the main findings to boost results in campaign promotion on the platform. Check below

Real people drive engagement:Advertisements featuring ordinary people outperformed those with celebrities by 1.7 times. Advertisements with famous personalities experienced a 13% decrease in the six-second view rate (6sVTR).

The data shows that a brand was 20% more likely to be seen as meeting users' needs when it featured an ordinary person or a relatable creator in the first few seconds of the ad. When the audience believes that the content creator is using the product they are advertising, the video has one and a half times more chance of engaging on the platform.

Direct personal connection amplifies impact: Videos where people interacted directly with the camera saw a 14% increase in two-second view rate (2sVTR) and a 50% increase in ad engagement power.

Another important fact is that ads filmed outdoors had a 26% decrease in the six-second view rate (6sVT), compared to the platform average.

Brand integration is important:The videos showing the product/service experienced a 17% increase in the six-second view rate (6sVTR). Incorporating the brand/company into the story and highlighting it as the "heroine" of the message increased engagement power by 1.5 times. Brands highlighted as protagonists in the videos increased public interest by 32% and purchase intention by 20%.

Additionally, the study indicated that presenting the brand logo at the beginning of the video resulted in a 14% drop in the six-second view rate (6sVTR).

"TikTok has emerged as a dynamic platform for telling creative stories, requiring a fresh approach from brands seeking to capture the audience's attention," says Caeiro. By harnessing the power of real people and compelling narratives, brands can establish genuine connections with the audience and foster meaningful engagement.

Multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) is opening new possibilities for interaction between humans and systems, offering an integrated way to process different types of data. This new form of communication, which combines text, images, and audio, is enabling companies to accelerate processes, improve customer service, and even implement more accurate medical diagnoses.

A study by McKinsey indicates that the adoption of advanced AI technologies, such as multimodal AI, has already resulted in a 20% increase in efficiency in sectors such as healthcare, financial services, and e-commerce. The study suggests that this technology will continue to be a competitive advantage in the coming years, driving innovation in companies.

Alan Nicolas, an expert in artificial intelligence for business and founder ofLegendary Academy[IA]Multimodal AI is an automation tool and a revolution in the way data is understood. "Companies investing in this type of artificial intelligence are transforming the way they make decisions. By integrating different data, they are able to generate deeper and more accurate insights, which directly impact financial results and the customer experience," he states.

Various uses of multimodal AI

Multimodal artificial intelligence is a technology that combines data from different sources to create smarter systems capable of interpreting and responding to multiple forms of human communication simultaneously. However, the application of multimodal AI goes beyond process automation.

Companies are using this technology to create smarter customer service systems capable of interpreting verbal and visual language simultaneously. This means that, instead of relying solely on text, systems can analyze photos and sounds to provide faster and more comprehensive solutions.

In the healthcare sector, multimodal AI is being used to cross-reference imaging exam data with medical histories in text format, improving the accuracy of diagnoses and treatments. "This integration has the potential to reduce medical errors and improve healthcare professionals' response time," celebrates Alan.

The multimodal format has also proven to be effective in the retail sector. Companies are using AI to analyze purchasing behavior data, such as social media interactions, product images, and customer audio feedback, which allows for personalized offers and improved shopping experiences.

The Future of Multimodal AI in Business

The use of artificial intelligence is not limited to large corporations. Startups and small businesses are also beginning to explore the potential of this technology, especially in areas such as digital marketing, education, and entertainment. The ability to process different types of data simultaneously makes this tool a key piece in creating solutions.

According to Alan Nicolas, the future of multimodal AI is linked to companies' adaptability. "Those who manage to integrate this technology into their processes will have a significant advantage. Multimodal AI automates and at the same time humanizes interactions by allowing systems to better understand users' communication nuances," he highlights.

With the growth of artificial intelligence, it is expected that businesses will become increasingly dependent on integrated systems capable of analyzing and processing large amounts of data in real time. "This has the potential to drive innovation and improve decision-making. The future belongs to companies that can combine technology with human intelligence," concludes Alan Nicolas.

Protection of sensitive data, prevention against cyberattacks, and ensuring the integrity of AI systems are fundamental pillars to face the growing digital threats in companies. The Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2024 study revealed that 54% of organizations are not prepared to handle vulnerabilities in their supply chains, increasing risks for their partners. In the last 12 months, 41% of companies that faced cyber incidents identified third parties as the source of the problem, ranging from simple attacks to sophisticated cyber espionage operations. And the impact is not limited to large corporations: in the first half of 2023 alone, Latin America suffered over 63 billion cyber attacks, with Brazil among the most affected countries, highlighting the urgent need for more robust data protection.

What do technology leaders say about the matter?

Recently, at the Aspen Security Forum, the Coalition for Safe AI (CoSAI) was launched, comprised of technology leaders including Google, Amazon, Intel, IBM, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, with the goal of establishing robust AI security standards.

In this regard, Srikrishna Shankavaram, chief cybersecurity architect of Zebra Technologies' Advanced Development and AI team, highlighted that one of the main focus areas of the Safe AI Coalition (CoSAI) will be the security of the software supply chain for Artificial Intelligence systems. "Given the complex and interconnected nature of AI ecosystems, any vulnerability at one stage can compromise the entire system," explained Shankavaram.

According to EY's Global Cybersecurity Leadership Insights Study, in terms of costs, during 2022, 37% of companies indicated that data breaches represented an expense of around 1.5 million dollars; and 35% commented that this figure reached between 1.5 and 3 million dollars for their companies.

And what security measures should be taken in the era of Artificial Intelligence?

In response to this problem, Zebra Technologies has developed a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity solutions to protect mobile devices and business data. Through technologies such as Zebra LifeGuard™, Mobility DNA, and biometric authentication solutions, Zebra ensures device security and data privacy.

Your advanced analytics platforms, powered by artificial intelligence, proactively detect threats, while identity and access management solutions control who has access to which information. These solutions not only strengthen defense against cyberattacks but also enhance the operational efficiency of companies. This is essential to preserve data integrity and ensure that artificial intelligence is used ethically and responsibly, bringing benefits to individuals, organizations, and society.

According to Manuel González, Regional Product Manager for Latin America at Zebra Technologies, “At Zebra, we understand that AI security is not just a technical priority, but a comprehensive commitment to our customers and partners. We support and are committed to initiatives that seek to establish higher security standards across the industry.”

González emphasizes that Zebra continues to enhance its AI portfolio, which includes machine learning for retail task management, intelligent vision applications, voice AI, and generative AI for wearable devices and self-checkout scanners. These innovations enable companies to create secure and scalable digital services, supported by the Zebra Savanna platform.