2.2 - Meaning of Business Communication
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Objectives of Business Communication
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today, we will explore the key objectives of business communication. Can anyone tell me why it's important to share information in a business setting?
To make sure everyone is aware of the company's goals and plans?
Exactly! Sharing information helps in exchanging ideas and instructions. Another objective is facilitating decision-making. Can you guess how?
It helps evaluate options before making choices.
Correct! That’s why clear communication aids in informed decision-making. Now, let's remember these objectives with the acronym 'SFDPE' for Sharing, Facilitating, Developing, Promoting, and Enhancing. Any questions?
Types of Business Communication
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Next, let’s dive into the types of business communication. Who can define internal communication?
It's about communication among employees within the organization.
Yes! And what about external communication?
That’s when the company communicates with outsiders, like customers.
Right again! We also need to consider the distinction between formal and informal communication. How would you differentiate these?
Formal follows official protocols, while informal is more casual.
Great insights! Remember this with the mnemonic: 'FIF'—Formal Is Formal, Informal Is Friendly. Let’s summarize these points.
Barriers to Effective Communication
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Finally, let’s discuss barriers to effective communication. What are some barriers you think organizations face?
Semantic barriers can lead to misunderstandings.
Absolutely! Semantic barriers involve misinterpretations due to language. Can anyone mention another type?
Psychological barriers like stress probably affect communication too.
Exactly! Psychological factors play a significant role. Let’s categorize these barriers with the acronym 'SPOT'—Semantic, Personal, Organizational, and Technical. This helps us remember them.
Essentials of Effective Business Communication
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
What do you think are the essentials of effective business communication?
Clarity is important so people understand the message.
Correct! Clarity along with conciseness and correctness makes communication effective. How can we remember these essentials?
Maybe using an acronym or a list?
Yes! We can use 'CCCCCC': Clarity, Conciseness, Correctness, Completeness, Courtesy, and Consideration. Remembering this will help reinforce the key points.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
Business communication refers to the process of sharing information among individuals in and outside an organization. It includes various forms such as verbal, non-verbal, and written communication, all of which aim to facilitate effective instructions, decision-making, and relationship-building while promoting efficiency and enhancing the professional image.
Detailed
Meaning of Business Communication
Overview
Business communication plays a crucial role in any organizational setup, serving as the core mechanism for operations and interactions. Defined as the sharing of information between people within and outside the organization, it assists in achieving commercial success through effective message delivery.
Objectives of Business Communication
Key objectives include:
1. Sharing Information: Provides a platform to exchange ideas, plans, and instructions relevant to business.
2. Facilitating Decision-Making: Aids in evaluating options for informed choices.
3. Building Relationships: Fosters teamwork and trust among employees.
4. Promoting Efficiency: Ensures clarity in tasks to enhance workflow.
5. Enhancing Professional Image: Reflects a company's credibility through effective communication.
Types of Business Communication
Types can be classified as:
1. Internal vs. External Communication: Internal refers to within the organization (e.g., notices), while external involves interactions with outside entities (e.g., customer letters).
2. Formal vs. Informal Communication: Formal adheres to structured channels (e.g., company memos), while informal consists of casual interactions (e.g., informal teamwork discussions).
3. Vertical, Horizontal, and Diagonal Communication: This distinction defines the direction of communication, whether between superiors and subordinates or across departments.
Channels of Communication
Various channels include:
- Oral Communication: Quick and allows immediate feedback, but lacks a permanent record.
- Written Communication: Provides a permanent record but may take more time to compose.
- Non-Verbal Communication: Important for conveying emotions that support verbal messages.
Essentials of Effective Business Communication
Key principles include clarity, conciseness, correctness, completeness, courtesy, consideration, and consistency. Each is vital for ensuring effective communication.
Barriers to Effective Communication
Common barriers include semantic, organizational, psychological, personal, and technical obstacles that hinder effective message delivery.
Conclusion
Understanding the types and essentials of business communication, along with recognizing barriers, is crucial for professionals aiming to enhance their communication skills in organizational contexts.
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Definition of Business Communication
Chapter 1 of 2
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Business Communication refers to the sharing of information between people within and outside the organization to ensure commercial success. It includes verbal, non-verbal, and written communication used to convey messages effectively and professionally.
Detailed Explanation
Business Communication is essentially about the exchange of information. It happens both inside of an organization (like between employees) and outside of it (like with customers). This communication can be verbal (spoken or heard), non-verbal (like body language), or written (like emails or reports). The goal of Business Communication is to ensure that all involved parties understand each other clearly, which is crucial for achieving success in business.
Examples & Analogies
Think of Business Communication like a coach giving instructions to a sports team. The coach needs to communicate strategies, feedback, and encouragement clearly so that the players can perform well together. If the players don’t understand the coach’s instructions, they might not work effectively as a team, just like how poor communication in business can lead to confusion and inefficiency.
Purpose of Business Communication
Chapter 2 of 2
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
To ensure commercial success, effective business communication must occur, which encompasses various styles and methods of conveying messages.
Detailed Explanation
The purpose of business communication goes beyond just talking or writing. It aims to facilitate a smooth flow of information that contributes to the commercial success of an organization. When business communication is done effectively, it supports tasks like decision making, relationship building, and operational efficiency.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a customer service scenario. When a customer has an issue with a product, clear communication from the support team can help resolve the problem quickly. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also builds a loyal relationship, which is crucial for business success.
Key Concepts
-
Business Communication: Vital for successful transactions within and outside an organization.
-
Objectives of Business Communication: Includes sharing information, facilitating decision-making, building relationships, promoting efficiency, and enhancing professional image.
-
Types of Communication: Internal, external, formal, informal, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal communication.
-
Barriers to Communication: Various obstacles impacting effective transmission of messages.
Examples & Applications
An internal email from a manager to the team regarding a project update.
A customer complaint letter sent to a supplier about faulty products.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
For business chat, make it clear, concise, and polite; the message will steer, making communication right.
Stories
Once in a busy office, a manager shared a plan with their team clearly and concisely. This trust allowed for smooth operations and relationships in the workplace.
Memory Tools
'SFDPE' - for remembering the objectives: Share, Facilitate, Develop, Promote, Enhance.
Acronyms
'CCCCCC' for the essentials
Clarity
Conciseness
Correctness
Completeness
Courtesy
Consideration.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Business Communication
The process of sharing information between people within and outside the organization to ensure commercial success.
- Internal Communication
Communication that occurs between members of the same organization.
- External Communication
Communication that occurs between an organization and outside individuals or entities.
- Formal Communication
Communication that follows established channels and is structured according to organizational hierarchy.
- Informal Communication
Casual communication that occurs outside formal channels within an organization.
- Vertical Communication
Communication that occurs between levels of a hierarchy, often between superiors and subordinates.
- Horizontal Communication
Communication between colleagues or departments at the same organizational level.
- Barriers to Communication
Obstacles that impede effective communication, including semantic, organizational, psychological, personal, and technical barriers.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.