Communication For Business
By · CommentsIntroducing Successful Communication For Business
By Kadence Buchanan
Whenever we face the task of writing a report, preparing a proposal, completing a staff study, or composing a business letter, we go through the same series of logical steps. First we recognize the problem and/or the purpose with which the message must deal. Then we plan the content of the communication to achieve our goal. Next we organize our ideas so that they will be presented in an order that is logical and psychologically effective. Later we have to write the first draft, which must be followed by careful editing. It is imperative to make sure that what we have written is stated clearly, completely, correctly, and concisely. Writing the final draft from the edited version then becomes almost a simple formality.
In sum, the planning step pays dividends to both the writer and the reader. A working outline gives the writer an agenda to follow in creating a clear, organized document. That outline, as translated into headings and paragraph beginnings, serves the reader as a road map for following the writer’s thoughts. The end result of such orderly sending and receiving is successful communication for business.
When we communicate, we attempt to transmit ideas. We select words, order them into sentences and connect the sentences to build paragraphs. The way business people handle those three elements largely determines how effective they are in making themselves understandable to others. Creating and maintaining high standards for written communication in the workplace is hard work on the part of the manager. But the effort is well repaid as subordinates begin to practice the same standards set by the manager. The alternative -simply letting poor writing go forward- backfires eventually on the bottom line, as clients, stockholders, and the public lose faith in a company that can’t communicate accurately and clearly. Effective written communications succeed in both rational and emotional ways. Skilled business writers convey and arouse feelings as well as communicate facts and ideas.
Every company, big or small, communicates to dozens of different publics. These publics are either internal or external to the firm: employees, suppliers, dealers, distributors, manufacturers, customers, vendors, prospective purchasers, government agencies, community groups, educational institutions, and so on. Of the many types of written or printed communication forms, such as newspaper and magazine advertisements, direct mail pieces, telegrams, reports, and letters, it is certainly letters are used most frequently.
Our modern world of computer and electronic communication, like the Internet and the use of e-mails, has made a striking difference in our use of business letters, as information now can be send quicker and at less cost than in the past. But although the transmission of the business letter is changing, the essential act of sending a message from one person to another remains the same. Since one person is still communicating with another, it is important to be aware of and practice the basic principles of successful communication for business
By Kadence Buchanan
According to Diane DiResta there are ten ways women sabotage communication in the workplace. Here is an ezine article that she wrote…
Have a read and let me know what you think by posting in the comments box on the left hand side of this page
By Diane DiResta
Glass ceiling or partners in sabotage? While the glass ceiling exists, very often women undermine their success by how they communicate in the workplace. We’ve learned to dress for success but have we learned the language of success? When Catalyst, a non-profit organization dealing with women’s issues asked.
What holds women back from top management?
Fifty-two per cent said Male stereotyping and preconceptions of women.
When they asked, How can women succeed?
Sixty-one per cent said Developing a style with which male managers are comfortable. It seems communication style is vitally important.
Here are ten ways women weaken their image and what they can be do about it.
1. Too much head nodding-When women nod, they mean I hear you,
I understand. Men interpret head nodding as agreement with their ideas.
Too much head nodding will be perceived as weakness and may result in miscommunication. Continual head bobbing creates a subliminal message of submissiveness.
2. Uptalk-A rising inflection at the end of a sentence sounds tentative, as if posing a question. This is a real credibility killer. Women will not be taken seriously with this vocal pattern. To speak with authority practice bringing the voice down at the end of a sentence. American intonation patterns use a downward inflection to declare or demand and a rising inflection to question or indicate uncertainty.
This is not true for all cultures. In Canada, India, Pakistan, France and China it is more commonplace to hear the voice rise at the end of a sentence. This pattern is sometimes used by American men in the South or by Generation X. It is not effective for either sex.
3. Weak Language
Tag lines-Some communicators make a statement and then ask for validation. This is a good idea, don’t you think? We have the best team, right? Tag lines weaken conviction and authority. Eliminate them.
Modifiers-Words such as some, just, only, hopefully, and guess, minimize the message and the messenger. This is just a thought. I’m only a beginner; Hopefully, I’ve done a good job; I guess I have a question, are weak statements. They signal a lack of confidence and tell the listener that its not very important. Constant apologizing is not appropriate and will have the same effect. Weed out wimpy words and replace them with powerful language. This is most commonly a female pattern.
time to sound confident and full of conviction.
4. Allowing interruptions-Men jump in and say what they think. They tend to interrupt more than women. Women are more likely to allow themselves to be cut off and lose credit for their ideas. Instead, they can say, I’m not finished, Please hold your questions,These interruptions break everyone’s train of thought or continue talking and finish your point.
5. Not speaking up (Waiting to be called on)-Still waters may run deep but in our business culture, people who don’t speak up are perceived as not knowing anything. Commit to making one contribution at every meeting. It may be as simple as underscoring a point or adding to what’s been said. Some women wait to be called on or have difficulty taking the floor. It may be necessary to interrupt to have your say. Do it. You must be heard to be a counted.
6. Dressing too sexy-A visual impression takes seven seconds or less. Clothing and appearance are a visual shorthand. Women who wear spiked heels, low cut blouses, heavy make-up, and micro-mini skirts are communicating sexual availability rather than career mobility. To succeed in the workplace, women must dress the part. You don’t have to sacrifice femininity, but don’t appear too flashy. The goal is to look professionally attractive. To achieve advancement, dress one level above your present position. If you are a supervisor, dress, like a manager. On the opposite end of the continuum, executive women may dress too frumpy. At senior levels it’s no longer what you know but who you are as a leader. If a woman executive doesn’t look the part, she’ll lose respect and credibility.
7. Too soft spoken-A soft or breathy voice may sound sexy but it indicates insecurity or lack of confidence. Breathe from the diaphragm and project the voice so that every person at the meeting can hear. If they have to strain to listen, they will tune you out. A speaker loses conviction when ideas are presented in a soft voice. Confident women project their voices.
8. Allowing others to take credit for ideas-A common complaint of women is that men take credit for their ideas. When this happens women must learn to speak up and claim their contributions. Excuse me, I just said that a minute ago. How is that different from what I just proposed? Do not sit quietly while someone intercepts your idea.
9. Weak Body posture-Cute gestures such as shrugging shoulders, not making direct eye contact, standing with one leg crossed at the ankle and a weak handshake will weaken ones visual impact. Men naturally take up more space. Hold your ground. Stand tall and sit up straight, make direct eye contact and ground your energy. Channel nervousness by using hand gestures about the waist. Act like you belong. You have a right to be there.
10. Avoiding public speaking. This is one of the biggest mistakes women can make in their careers. Men don’t have a glass ceiling. Public speaking is an opportunity for visibility and equal exposure. Confront your fear, get some coaching, and get out there and shine.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_DiResta
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ten-Ways-Women-Sabotage-Communication-in-the-Workplace&id=992
So, What are your views on this ? I’m intrigued to discover your thoughts….
Here are six tips for improving your communication style:
1.
Knowing how to improve communication skills will come easier once you become aware of your own communication style.
Each person has a unique way of communicating. Listen to your own speech. What sorts of words do you use? Which sort of body language and what tone of voice are you using? Now, think of someone who, in your opinion, is a good communicator. Compare your style to theirs. You’ve just taken an important first step in how to improve communication skills.
2. Now that you are aware of your own style, study the style of those around you. How do the most important people in your life converse? How do they say things? Look for approaches you can model and make your own.
3. Adjust to the other styles of communication. Don’t think it is too late to change your way of conversing because it’s been years. You had to learn to communicate in the first place and you can unlearn certain behaviors or change them. Sometimes we get stuck in a communication rut.A father once was having a hard time with his teenaged daughter. She was growing and he thought she didn’t tell him what was going on in her life. They were in a heated discussion when he asked, Why didn’t you tell me?Her answer was that she had, but he was too busy lecturing her to hear her. He learned that adjusting his style to his daughter would involve listening first before jumping right into solving the problem.
4. To build rapport, during a conversation try and match the other persons movements, posture and verbal style. Don’t do everything they do, but mirror one or two things. For example, if the person gives mostly short answers to questions, you follow suit.Or, maybe they talk at a slower pace than you usually do-slow your speaking speed to match theirs. This may sound simplistic but it is a very potent way to make someone feel very relaxed and comfortable in your presence.
5. The way you communicate at home may not be the same as in a different environment. Make sure you change your style to suit the different setting. Some comments you might want to tell your best friend, in private.Other things can be shared in a group setting. Learn how to improve communication skills by altering your style for the appropriate setting. Many of us know someone who offers far too much information in a group setting.
6. Dont criticize others for communicating differently. If we all communicated in the same way, we’d soon be bored with each other.Getting a good grasp of your communication style and finding ways to accommodate other peoples styles, is a good way to improve your communication skills.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available only at: how to communicate
expert=Peter_Murphy
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Improve-Communication-Skills-and-Your-Personal-Style&id=149358
Everyone knows that effective business communication skills are a necessity for any successful manager. But what are the pitfalls of poor business communication skills by managers?
1. Lowered Efficiency
Poor business communication skills can hamper the efficiency of your company or department through vague emails that need to be clarified, rewriting of vital documents, and the inefficient preparation of speeches and presentations.
2. Low Employee Morale
Poor business communication skills demoralize employees by forcing them to sit through boring presentations and by providing them with unclear direction on projects. The monotony and confusion associated with poor business communication skills is a chronic complaint of employees everywhere.
3. Inability To Complete Large Or Complicated Projects
Business communication skills are essential to efficiently completing large and complicated projects. When multiple people or departments are involved in a project, the value of effective business communication skills increases exponentially.
Without the ability to clearly communicate project responsibilities and objectives, your organization’s projects will never get off the ground.
4. Lack Of Motivation
An often overlooked impact of effective business communication skills is how they serve to motivate employees. A collaborative and communicative environment fosters employee creativity and inspires them to action. In contrast, if your business communication skills are lackluster, your employees will drag their feet on their assignments and question the wisdom of projects.
5. Decreased Innovation
The inability to adequately handle current projects due to poor business communication skills will decrease any organization’s innovation. The ability to innovate is predicated on the ability to communicate tasks and outcomes and the ability to get things done.
Being a successful manager means having the ability to communicate with your employees and outside vendors and customers. Improving your management skills is really just a question of improving your business communication skills. All effective managers are, first and foremost, effective communicators.
By Matt Nadell
Communication in the workplace is essential for many reasons.
All of your planning and monitoring of business processes depend on your ability to convey the facts needed to get the task done . This can take many forms and may include modern electronic methods or a simple office circular .
What is crucial is that your meaning is comprehended by the recipient . Communication is based on telling people your requirements in a manner that the recipient can decode it and still know the exact meaning of what you said.
The Anglo saxon language is crammed with ambivalent words that can have numerous meanings depending on the context they are used in. It’s a bit like the childrens game called Chinese whispers. I’m sure that you can remember the hilarity when the message eventually got back to the original sender .
Children love this sort of game in business there’s more at stake .
So… How do you. know that your message has been understood in the way that you wanted it to be?
It’s easy …
Just ask !
By confirming that your message has actually been decoded in the way that you meant it to be ask the recipient of your email do they understand your meaning and the thinking behind sending it .
You can also train your teams or other business partners to actively listen to what you have said or written .
eg : You have just sent out an email to all of your team informing them that revenues are down and if the sales figures don’t improve then your financial targets won’t be met .
Active listening is where the person who gets your communication will reflect back to you what they understood about what you said .
” So, Mary , what you are telling theteam is that we have to increase our sales this month or we will be deep in trouble”
Your options are then to either clarify the message , If it isn’t received correctly or you can state that Yes that’s correct . The advantage of reflective listening is that all parties are clear right from the start and this will reduce lost time, later when you have to clean up any mistakes created by bad communication .
There are so many ways that you can have more powerful business communication.
How and When to Ask For Prescription Medicine Help
By · CommentsDon’t you completely dislike it once a medical emergency affects you at a awful point in time? Pricey health visits, along with prescribed prescription medicine, aren’t easily dealt with, more than ever while you are totally broke as the predicament hits. However show appreciation for prescription program assistance services – don’t you know that it will ease your life in such difficult times?
Help for prescriptions is a medical assistance or service given by assorted non-profit companies that mean to help and supply medication to workers who become certified for their programs. Many persons are not even conscious that such health support programs exist, in spite of the actuality that such plans have been here for quite a few years by now. Not being conscious of this out of the ordinary program leaves numerous patients unable to provide the health care consideration people must have for their healthiness. Individuals are left with no alternative save for to be satisfied with drugs which some might barely afford to provide for themselves. But, not any longer because of many aid programs.
Now, after the individual qualifies for their plan, he might take delivery of the medication straight to his house from the prescription drug company. All the same, the individual needs to check with awareness that these prescription medications in such health care assistance are the identical pharmacurtical drugs he sees in the local pharmacy, and the same medicines manufactured by the same company.
One of the several explanations individuals may possibly be in desperate need of prescription medicine relief is the fact that not everybody could find the money for personal medical insurance. However with drug help programs, the person could avail medication assistance typically for free, or probably for a small fee, depending on the guidelines of a particular prescription drug company. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to get those benefits and secure your healthiness? A couple of the universal qualifications of several programs are, firstly, the patient has to be a United States resident, and second, a person has to meet the minimum level of pay.
Therefore, how could the patient truly look for such types of plans? A person could abide by several straightforward steps:
1. Find out who makes that individual prescription drugs the consumer uses.
2. Utilize Google search and key in the name of the drug company, along with terminology such as drug assistance or prescription medication help.
3. The individual may find a number of organizations who can help the patient to meet the requirements. There are firms which might charge a specific fee, or might charge absolutely nothing. Be judicious and choosy when dealing with them though.
4. Once you have seen the viable programs, the majority of the questions those prescription drug companies could seek from you are the matching items your medical doctor will ask.
5. The request forms may be sent to you via snail mail. Fill it out and you could need to request your physician to initial it too.
6. The preliminary procedure is effortless, but it can take a while to be at last accepted. However once your paperwork qualifies, what a enormous relief it could be for you and your family.
Low-income earners don’t need to constantly put up with the cost of not having enough money to shell out for medical expenses or prescription medication. If there are non-profit companies that are eager to offer prescription medicine help programs, why not snatch the opportunity and look after your happiness without too much inconvenience?
Enhancing Your Office Decor
By · CommentsHaving a positive atmosphere for work can not only increase productivity, but also raise positive outlooks and behaviors throughout the entire work day. Though you may not be permitted to modify the major aspects in your office décor, like furniture and wall color, you can make a few personal changes that can enhance and brighten your days at work.
Needless to say, when you consider your office décor, you must keep in mind the fact that this is a business space and not your home office. Stay away from anything that could be even remotely crude, offensive or overly personal. While you may want to display family photos from your latest vacation, don’t put up intimate photos of you and your spouse.
Appropriate Office Décor
More often than not workers limit their office décor to desktop decorative sets that come with a series of matching useful items. You can find cheap sets in plastic or refined high end sets in fine metals or real wood. With an abundance of designs and colors you can choose a variety of pencil holders and paperclip dispensers that suit your office and personality. Go one step further and get a desk mat, designer stapler and nice pens to add to your office design.
Many enjoy having picture frames, posters or plaques that have inspirational, motivational or just comical sayings. These are usually accompanied with a photograph or image that supports the saying. A fabulous picture of a sunset beach can be a good pick me up at the end of a long day, while your favorite goofy photo can perhaps lighten your mood. Again, even if your workspace is private and seldom viewed by others, you should have your workspace design tasteful. Also, an oil painting may enhance an office space. Paintings such as A Vase With Oranges or Beach Scene are great ways to upgrade your workspace.
A safe thought would be pictures of your kids or family. There is a wide range of frames on the market that make it easy to choose a style and color that will fit in well with your working environment. One more alternative to think about is a digital picture frame with a selection of photos of family, favorite vacations, or any other fun pictures. While it is expensive at the start, you will constantly have distinct and interesting photos on your desk reminding you of amazing recollections.
Potted plants are always a favorite, and are a relatively inexpensive way to bring a spark of life to any office decor, but remember to bring only plants that require minimal care. You don’t want something that will struggle to survive over every long week end and that will only make your desk look pathetic and sloppy. Also be wary of flowering plants as allergic co-workers may not appreciate your choice of plant very much
Business Communication Skills Needed in Glasgow Airport?
By · CommentsSometimes, it seems impossible to use excellent business communication skills with your customers. Especially when they themselves are not the most polite when communicating with you. How do you think business communication skills could improve the overall business in the following story I found recently:
“An extensive survey of airport staff throughout the United Kingdom appears to show that customers at Glasgow airport in Scotland are the rudest and most ill-mannered in the country.
A questionnaire was sent to over 2000 airport employees asking them a number of probing multiple choice questions about the behaviour and politeness of their customers. The questions they were asked included:
‘Do customers ever raise their voices angrily?’ and ‘Has a customer ever been confrontational or argumentative?’.
The UKs busiest airports at Heathrow and Gatwick were among the worst but the list was topped by Glasgow airport. Survey results appear to indicate that customers at Scotland’s premiere airport have the worst manners of any airport customers in the UK.
It was clear that certain areas of the airport were bad-behaviour hotspots. The worst area for rude outbursts from passengers was found to be the check in desks. People appear to become very stressed by the restrictions on hand baggage size and luggage weight restrictions and this provokes many toward angry outbursts.
Another area in which people lose their cool very easily is in the Glasgow airport parking lots. People become impatient when waiting for shuttle buses and blamed airport parking staff when they couldn’t remember where they left their vehicles.
Airport staff are trained in dealing with passengers who can be stressed by tight schedules. But noboby should be required to tolerate rude, belligerent and even hostile behavior when at work.
Glasgow airport managers have said that they are now considering a campaign intended to improve customer behaviour at their busy airport. They are acutely aware of the stress and even illness that can be caused to staff as a result of having to deal with problematic passengers.
A spokesmn for Glasgow airport said: ‘If our customers could be encouraged to be less rude then our stafff would have less stress in their daily working lives. We’re likely to see a reduction in staff turnover and the workforce are likely to be a lot happier.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You may choose to fly from an alternative Scottish airport like Aberdeen or Edinburgh. Remember to book your Edinburgh airport parking in advance for some great savings.”
Companies send some of their employees to different countries on some work and used to find it difficult to guide them, earlier, it has been made easy now by online training. This training makes an employee aware of various cultural, ethical and safety tips that would be of great use to him/her in the location they go to. Have you ever got the idea of using online training in this manner to aid your employees? Though this may look like a lavish affair, it certainly helps the employees as well as your organization in the future.
Most employees harbour this false notion that any sort of training is waste and do it reluctantly. You can surely change this prejudice of theirs by giving online training on ‘International Travel Safety Tips’. E-learning can greatly change the way this training is provided. You can virtually send your employee on a short journey and test how he/she faces problems.
Online training lets you test your employees’ skills and presence of mind in handling a real life crisis that they may face abroad. In most cases, it is either the travelling team or a person from the HR department who conducts this training. This training is conducted whenever there is a trip in the offing. Both the employee and the trainer would start to feel bored after a certain stage.
This online training comes along with certification. You can also test their aptitude in this area by conducting simple tests. The duration to finish this training varies according to the employee and most of them finish it within a very short period of time
Companies send their employees overseas to finish certain tasks or to work on certain projects. This requires trainers to have a good knowledge about all the different countries which is a bit difficult to achieve. Online training lets you have a single interface with the content about different locations on it. There is a great difference in the knowledge gained through online training and that gained in a traditional classroom setup.
You will be able to create an interesting onine training system with the help of tools that you can find in the Internet. You can also tweak the training module to suit the needs of your organization. Good online training sources touch each and every aspect of travel safety. You can keep your employees informed about various things including the climate of the place, the people there, emergency contact and important documents.
International travel safety tips weren’t given much importance in the past. Strict laws are those that prompt organizations to make this training mandatory. Online training only lets your employees be aware of different countries and their different conditions.
Each and every aspect of international travel safety has to be covered in order to make your employees knowledgeable in that area. Employees should also be trained properly about handling emergencies. Online training only makes this process a much enjoyable and beneficial one.
Get more information on online training as platform for company travel safety on this LMS blog.
The responsibility of a company multiplies when it sends any of its employees overseas on duty, guidance to the employee can now be given through online training. This training is very much essential as the employee will be able to get knowledge about the original conditions in the country he/she is sent to prior to their travel. Do you make use of online training to serve this purpose? Though this may look like a lavish affair, it certainly helps the employees as well as your organization in the future.
There is a pre-conceived notion among employees that any kind of training is unnecessary and only a waste of time, they don’t take it up wholeheartedly. This attitude of theirs can be definitely changed if you make use of online training for providing ‘International Travel Safety Tips’. E-learning can greatly change the way this training is provided. You can simulate any kind of journey experience using this procedure.
You can create a scenario of real life difficulty with the help of online training. This training is conducted on most occasions by the travelling team itself or an individual from HR. This training is conducted whenever there is a trip in the offing. This can sometimes make the trainer as well as the employee feel disinterested.
Employees will be able to obtain online training on international travel along with a certification. You can see if they have made progress by conducting simple assessments. This training is mostly self-paced and can be completed without facing any difficulty.
Employees will have to be sent to different countries on certain assignments. This means that the trainers should be aware of the various locations and their respective conditions. A good online training system lets you share knowledge about different locations in a single interface. The knowledge received through online training exceeds the consistency and depth of that gained through conventional training methods.
The Internet is a great source of information and tools which can help you build an informative online training system. Your employees can benefit much from a training module that has been customized according to their needs. Some good online training are fully concerned with travel safety alone. You can keep your employees informed about various things including the climate of the place, the people there, emergency contact and important documents.
Companies only gave less importance to international safety tips in the past. Companies have started to make this training mandatory as the immigration laws of countries are only becoming stricter of late. Online training lets your employees know how to behave appropriately in countries they go to.
This kind of training can be a bit hectic but highly beneficial at the same time. Employees should also be trained properly about handling emergencies. This can be certainly made informative and attractive with the help of online training.
Learn more about on travel safety training online on this LMS blog.