Business Communications Foundations

Chapter 1 Business Communication Foundations

Business Communication

 The process of establishin establishing ga common understandin understanding g between or among people within a business environment.

The Importance of  Communicating Effectively  • Getting jobs you want • Gaining promotions • Providing leadership • Being productive on the job • Relating positively to others • Assuring success of your organization

Internal and External Communication • Internal – Day-to-day exchange among employees

• External – Flows between an organization and the entities with which it interacts

Business Communication is Transactional

Give-and-take relationship Give-and-take between sender and receiver in order to establish a common understandin understanding g

Goals of Business Communication 1. Receiver understandi understanding ng 2. Receiver response 3. Favorable relationship 4. Organizational goodwill

Internal Communication Communication Patterns • Vertical • Horizontal • Network

Formal Communication • Is business related • May be written or oral • Is planned by the organization • Flows in all directions • Is essential for effective operation of the business

Informal Communication • Referred to as “the Grapevine” • May be either business or personal • Is not planned by the organization • Flows in all directions • Develops and maintains positive human relationships

Serial Communication • Chain of three or more people • Messages usually changed as passed • Receivers should – Take notes – Repeat the message

Office Politics

 The competitive environment that exists within the corporate culture

Communication Communica tion Process Model

© Krizan, Merrier, Logan, Schneiter, Business Communication, 7ed., Southwestern

Sender’s Role • Selecting the type of message • Analyzing the receiver • Using the you-viewpoint • Encouraging feedback • Removing communication barriers

Receiver’s Role • Listening or reading carefully • Being open to different types of  senders and to new ideas • Making notes when necessary • Providing appropriate feedback to the sender • Asking questions to clarify the message

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication • Verbal – uses words • Nonverbal - does not use words

Message Channels • Written • Oral • Nonverbal

The You-Viewpoint   The sender gives primary consideration to the receiver’s point of view when composing and sending messages.

 Analyzing the Receiver  • Knowledge • Interests • Attitudes • Emotional Reaction

Feedback  • The sender’s role includes providing for feedback – Ask directly or indirectly for a response – Assist the receiver in giving the response

Communication Barriers

Any factors that interfere with the success of the communication process

Communication Barriers in Communication Word Choice • Denotative versus connotative meaning • Idioms • Implica Implications tions and inferences

More Communication Barriers • Grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling • Type of message • Appeara Appearance nce of the message • Appeara Appearance nce of the sender

More Communication Barriers • Environmental factors • Receiver’s capability • Ineffective listening skills • Other barriers