Introduction
Business communication is the communication that deals with promotion of a product. In this sense a product may be anything a company or an organization produces including its services. It may also include the organization itself. The relay of communication within the business or the organization can also deal with legal issues.
Business communication therefore means the passing of information from one end of a supply chain to another. This means that communication can also be between the consumer and the manufacturer. Communication in the work place should be effective such that good communication skills are enhanced. This work reviews the role, effects, and the trends of business communication in a business environment.
The Role of Business Communication in the Work Place
Good interpersonal and communication skills can make a person’s career prosper. Employers and workers are known to benefit from top-notch communication skills. Effective communication skills bring about good rapport by establishing familiarity. Establishment of familiarity brings about trust with clients and co-workers and not forgetting the rivals.
Business communication helps in solving conflicts within and outside the organization. A manager who has effective communication skills will always be tactful in dealing with disagreements. It is quite agreeable that when conflicts are handled tactfully by managers or workers, there will be no addition of ripples to the turmoil.
It should be understood that in the first place, miscommunication is the reason that creates conflict. When good communication strategies are employed by the staff of the organization, team members will always get along smoothly thereby increasing the productivity of the business.
Communication also finds its place during meetings (Fielding, 2006). An employee may be required by their company to attend and participate in different meetings. This means that communication skills must be employed to bring about productivity. One of the reasons why communication skills are inevitable is that it enhances the exchange of ideas and strategic decisions (Harris, Brewster, & Sparrow, 2004).
This can also be useful during business negotiations especially when dealing with arguments. It is worth noting that effective communication does not only imply to verbal relay of messages. It also entails good listening skills. This is also an essential part of communication because it includes taking notes of the decisions made by a particular panel of business associates during business meetings.
It is important to note that business communication plays an important role in an organization’s day to day operations. These operations include checking e-mails and replying to all messages that are important in the functions of the business. Communication is also vital in inquiring from customers during such operations as research (Fielding, 2006). Modern methods of communication such as company websites are important sources of information to both existing and potential customers and the public at large.
The Trends of Business Communication in the Work Place
The trends of contemporary business communication in many organizations are partly enhanced by the advancing in technology. This is to say that business communication is evolving from the archaic methods such as writing letters to the use of modern methods such as video conferencing. In the olden days, business meetings would often be face-to-face thereby ending with handshakes.
The use of electronic gadgets coupled with new innovations of software programs that continually enter the market to enhance relay of messages within and outside organizations is the current trend of business communication in many business organizations. Such devices include wikis, personal digital assistants together with teleconferencing which aid organizations to relay strategic information and decisions from one department to another.
Effective Communication at the Work Place
Effective communication at the work place is meant to decrease employee turnover and also decrease their absenteeism. If effective communication is provided to customers, more customers will be less dissatisfied due to effective customer care services.
There will also be lower product defeat rates such that the employees will be more focused on the business objectives. Effective communication in a business environment also prevents the stifling of business innovation (Harris, Brewster & Sparrow, 2004). When employees are kept informed on matters concerning their jobs, they will feel that they are being listened to by their managers.
The effectiveness of interpersonal skills of supervisors is meant to cause an imparting breakdown in communication of the organization (Fielding, 2006). This is because departments cannot be isolated from each other as long as they belong to the same organization. Therefore, the organization’s communication assessment survey park can be used to judge the level of effectiveness of communication between the workers and the managerial team.
Conclusion
In conclusion, business communication is the relay of messages from one employee, organization, department or office to another. Effective business communication usually helps in increasing productivity of the business because it relays ideas and decisions. Effective communication also helps in solving conflicts and restoring peace to an otherwise turbulent situation within a business organization.
Currently, there is a particular trend in business communication such that communication is moving from the old types of face-to-face meetings to the utilization of modern technologies such as conferencing. The main point to note here is that effective communication forms part of the backbone of business operations.
Reference List
Fielding, M. (2006). Effective Communication In Organizations: Preparing Messages That Communicate. Ed. 3. Cape Town: Juta & Co. (Pty) Ltd.
Harris, H., Brewster, C., & Sparrow, P. (2004). International Human Resource Management. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.