Business Communication
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Definition of Business
Communication.
Business communication is communication that promotes
a product, service, or organization; relays information within a business; or
functions as an official statement from a company.
Business communication (or simply
"communications", in a business context) encompasses such topics as
marketing, brand management, customer relations, consumer behavior,
advertising, public relations, corporate communication, community engagement,
reputation management, interpersonal communication, employee engagement, and
event management. It is closely related to the fields of professional
communication and technical communication.
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Media channels for business
communication include:
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Internet.
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Print media.
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Radio.
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Television.
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Ambient media.
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Word of mouth.
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There are several methods of
business communication, including:
1. Web-based communication - for better and
improved communication, anytime anywhere.
2. Video conferencing which allow people in
different locations to hold interactive meetings;
3. E-mails, which provide an instantaneous
medium of written communication worldwide;
4. Reports - important in documenting the
activities of any department;
5. Presentations - very popular method of
communication in all types of organizations, usually involving audiovisual
material, like copies of reports, or material prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint
or Adobe Flash;
6. Telephoned meetings, which allow for long
distance speech;
7. Forum boards, which allow people to
instantly post information at a centralized location; and
8. Face-to-face meetings, which are personal
and should be succeeded by a written follow up. Suggestion box, it is mainly
for upward communication as because some people may hesitate to communicate to
the to management directly so they can give suggestion by drafting suggestion
in suggestion box.
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Effective Business
Communication
Communication is the top quality that employers look for. Effective
business communication starts by asking the right questions to understand the
customer’s needs and wants to be able to recommend a product or service
customized to the customer. One good tip would be to speak, pause, and listen.
Communicate what you need and then pause to let the recipient process and
respond to the information. With an average of 1800 messages being sent by
workers through memos, telephone, email, faxes, and face to face, it is
important to listen and pay attention to the recipient and send your
information clearly. All in all, to be effective in business communication you
need to be clear, brief, focused, and committed. You make an impression on
everyone with the way you handle your communication skills from your voice to
your body language.
Face-to-face Communication-Face-to-face communication helps to
establish a personal connection and will help sell the product or service to
the customer. These interactions can portray a whole different message than
written communication as tone, pitch, and body language is observed.
Information is easier to access and delivered immediately with these
interactions rather than waiting for an email or phone call. Conflicts are also
easily resolved this way as verbal and non-verbal cues are observed and acted
upon. Communicating professional is very important as you are representing the
company. Speak clearly and ask questions to understand the needs and wants, let
the recipient respond as you resolve the issue. Decisions are made more
confidently during a face-to-face interaction as the recipient asks questions
to understand and move forward with their decision.
Email Communication-When using email to communicate in the business
world it is important to be careful how things are worded. Miscommunication is
very frequent as the reader doesn’t know what non-verbal cues you are giving
off, such as the pitch, tone, or expressions. Before beginning an email make
sure the email address you are using is appropriate and professional as well as
the message you are going to send. Again, make sure the information is clear
and to the point so the recipient isn’t confused. Make sure you include your
signature, title, and other contact information at the end.
Telephone Communication-When making a business call make it clear who
you are and where you are from as well as your message when on the phone. Smile
and have a positive attitude as the recipient will be able to read you and that
will affect how they react. When leaving a message, make sure you are clear and
brief. State your name and who you are and why you are calling them as well as
contact information. If replying to a voicemail try to respond as soon as
possible and take into consideration the time of day. Don’t call to early or
too late, as it is important to respect other’s time. Also be mindful of where
you are and the noise level as well as the people you are around when trying to
reach someone by phone.
Memorandum Communication-Memorandums are straight to the point and
used within a company to communicate information to individuals or departments.
Make sure the memo includes a subject and stays brief but to the point. Include
what the recipient needs to do after reading the memo and a signature or
initials of whom it is from. Business memos should have a center title in
uppercase and to, from, and date aligned to the left. To begin, state the
problem, and then discuss the causes of the problem and why it exists, and end
with what to do to solve the problem while offering assistance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_communication
