There’s a common myth that communication is all about how fluently you speak in a language, but it’s just a myth. Communication is a much broader concept, and it consists of- body Language, verbal/ non-verbal communication, effective writing, listening, public speaking , time management , understanding , interpersonal skills and much more
Business communication helps build teamwork, aids collaboration, boosts productivity, and ensures that you and the organization you work in , meet their goals.Equipping yourself with communication skills is the perfect gateway for making your professional life more successful.
Few people possess and effectively use business communication skills. But learning with us and a little practice, you can certainly master these skills .
2. WHAT IS BUSINESS COMMUNICATION?
Communication is neither the transmission of a message nor the message itself.
It is the mutual exchange of understanding, originating with the receiver.
Communication needs to be effective in business.
Communication is the essence of management.
The basic functions of management (Planning, Organizing, Staffing,
Directing and Controlling) cannot be performed well without effective
communication.
Business communication involves constant flow of information.
Feedback is integral part of business communication.
Organizations these days are verly large and involve large number of people.
There are various levels of hierarchy in an organization.
Greater the number of levels, the more difficult is the job of managing
the organization. Communication here plays a very important role in
process of directing and controlling the people in the oragnization.
3. Immediate feedback can be obtained and misunderstandings if any can be avoided.
There should be effective communication between superiors and subordinated
in an organization, between organization and society at large
(for example between management and trade unions).
It is essential for success and growth of an organization.
Communication gaps should not occur in any organization.
Business Communication is goal oriented.
The rules, regulations and policies of a company have to be communicated
to people within and outside the organization.
Business Communication is regulated by certain rules and norms.
In early times, business communication was limited to paper-work,
telephone calls etc.But now with advent of technology,
we have cell phones, video conferencing, emails, satellite communication to
support business communication.
Effective business communication helps in building goodwill of an
organization.
4. The Importance of Business Communication
Effective communication is a must for any modern business that wants to develop
a competitive advantage and be truly successful. Why?
The purpose of business communication is to improve processes and
reduce errors—which has become even more vital in today’s hyper-connected,
digitally-driven business world. When you and your employees are using so
many different devices, tools, software, applications, and platforms to conduct
various business processes, you need to ensure that everyone is on the same
page and working towards the same organizational goals.
Although using many different tools at once increases the risk for error or
something slipping through the cracks, strong communication can greatly
minimize their risks.
If there are miscommunications, your core systems and processes could quickly
fall apart—negatively affecting your business, your customers, and your
employees. In fact, yet another benefit of strong business communication
is higher employee engagement. When employees are aware of their personal
goals, team goals, and the goals of the overall organization, they can work
towards them with motivation and confidence.
5. After all, if your employees have no idea what the goals of a certain initiative are,
don’t feel comfortable going to their manager with a problem, or asking their
coworker for feedback, how are they supposed to do their jobs effectively?
Plus, when employees feel they can communicate and build relationships with
their managers, coworkers, and clients, they’ll be happier on the job.
This helps to reduce your turnover rate and the high expenses associated with
employee turnover.
When your employees are engaged and satisfied, they’ll also be more productive,
which means they’ll be able to produce a higher quantity and quality of
work—meaning happier customers and more revenue for your business.
The proof is in the numbers: companies with a highly engaged workforce see
a 19.2% growth in operating income over a 12-month period, while those with
low engagement scores earn on average 32.7% less!
6. Problems Solved by Effective Business Communication
Without the right business communication processes in place and tools to carry
them out, the flow of information in your business will be quickly interrupted—
which means miscommunications, uncertainties, and errors.
On the other hand, having the proper business communication processes can
minimize risk, frustration, and a whole slew of problems, including:
-Email overload.
Nothing feels more overwhelming than an email inbox overflowing with
hundreds of new messages. This isn’t only frustrating, but makes it easier
to misplace or completely overlook a crucial piece of information.
By outlining clear business communication processes
(for example, when it’s appropriate to send a quick instant message rather
than a whole email), you can reduce the number of digital distractions and
create more space for creativity and collaboration.
7. -Drains on productivity.
When your employees can’t find a piece of information they need to complete
a project, they’re often left searching through endless email chains or wasting
time trying to track down the right person to ask. But, when they have
organized communication processes in place and access to the right
communication tools, these drains on productivity will come to a halt.
-Horizontal and vertical communication silos.
Often times, teams and departments within an organization don’t talk to
each other as much as they should be. These silos can be easily remedied
with clear communication processes in place for how to reach out between
departments and get answers in a timely manner.
-Low Job Satisfaction.
Statistics show that remote workers are 57% more likely to be satisfied
with their jobs when working remotely. Effective communication is key
for ensuring remote employees remain engaged with their work and feel
that their contributions have an impact.
8. -Lack of clarity on company culture.
When your employees aren’t clear about your values and vision, your company
culture won’t be as strong as it could be. This could lead to morale issues in
the workplace that negatively impact both job satisfaction and productivity.
-Employee turnover.
Losing top talent is expensive, and one of the biggest reasons for employees
leaving their jobs is a lack of communication and disengagement.
According to data from Owl Labs, employees who remote work report being
likely to stay at their "current job for the next 5 years 13% more than onsite
workers."
-Poor customer service.
If there’s poor communication inside your organization, chances are that
employees in customer-facing roles won’t have the information they need
either. This can affect the quality of the customer service you’re able to
provide, which can quickly frustrate customers and send them straight
into the arms of the competition.