Business communication: characteristic types and common mistakes

We live in a society in which a large part of the labor market is formed based on the business environment. Large multinationals, SMEs, family businesses or even individual services, all these companies must take into account that an essential element for their survival is the coherence in the organization and the communication between various parties in order to join efforts and go towards the same objective. .

We can affirm that business communication is one of the key elements when an organization, especially if it has some complexity, works correctly and can adapt and survive.

What is business communication?

It is the set of processes that a company or part of it carries out in order to make the information travel, internally in the different departments or positions of the company, if we talk about the communication of the company with the outside, we must Keep in mind that, as a general rule, such communication does not only imply the ability to issue the information, but would also include the fact of receiving it: this is an exchange of data.

Excellent business communication benefits all members of the company who can remain motivated and their actions can be known, reducing the uncertainty of both workers and leaders. It facilitates interaction and improves the working environment, in addition to improving productivity and allowing a more optimal reaction to any unforeseen event.

General
objective These objectives are understandable, internally it allows a coherent organization to be produced, the information and results obtained by its different departments or workers to be shared, and the objectives and corporate vision of the company to be generated and transmitted .

It facilitates the understanding of what is expected of each of the workers, as well as the understanding of the realities that each of them must face. They all work in the same direction, and new ways of carrying out their own responsibilities can be learned.

Externally, business communication is essential. Contact face to face and generate a positive image of the company itself, as well as analyze the target audience and assess their needs. It allows us to learn and attract potential clients, to value the changes typical of the dynamic and fluid society in which we live.

It is necessary for the company itself to create effective channels for them, to potentiate with their actions the transmission of information, generating means to be able to communicate and also actively working so that there is no uncertainty regarding what is requested and sought within the organization.

You must work with formal and informal aspects, as well as assess the needs and thoughts of different workers. Empathy is also essential, as well as good regulation and planning of communication mechanisms.

Not all companies and organizations communicate in the same way and there are different types and classifications of business communication based on different criteria.

Internal and external
The first of them is the one that establishes the distinction between internal and external communication, the first being the one that occurs between the different departments and workers of the company itself and the second one that is aimed at establishing communication with the environment .

Bidirectional and monodirectional
We can find styles of business communication with a greater or lesser level of interactivity, and can be found from the most common bidirectional communication in which the sender and receiver interact and exchange information to the monodirectional in which only a message is sent, generally from a power, to a receiver that has no option to reply.

Ascending, descending and horizontal
Within the internal business communication of an organization, we can find three types depending on the point where the information starts and the position between the sender and receiver of the same communication. We speak of downward communication when the communicative act is carried out from a sender with a higher charge than that of receiver.

When the subordinate who issues the message to his superior, we speak of upward communication. In both cases we would be facing a type of vertical communication, that is, a communication in which the subjects who maintain the communicative act have a relationship of inequality in terms of power (there is a hierarchy between them).

Formal and informal
It should be noted that in business communication we can find the existence of two different types of communication channels: the formal and the formal, in the first is where technical aspects are usually treated and related to the tasks themselves , being a type of respectful communication and focused on the reason and the objective of the company.

The informal , is usually established with more flexible and natural communications , mainly focused on interpersonal relationships and often being the one that has the greatest effect on the work good. The latter varies greatly depending on who carries it out and can go beyond the workplace, being hardly controllable by the organization.

Possible threats to good communication
Maintaining efficient business communication is essential, but it is not easy. The existence of a high level of variability in the situations that may arise must be taken into account, as well as the existence of misunderstandings, misuses and difficulties in the company’s own communications.

Lack of consistency. One of the factors that influence that communication is really useful is the credibility of the sender and the consideration that is shown towards the receiver of the message.

Example: it could be the existence of dissonance between what is said and what is done, not keeping the emitters a way of acting consistent with the messages emitted. This usually happens in any of the workers of the companies, regardless of their hierarchical position and generates serious repercussions for both the subject. Depending on the situation, you could end up being poorly considered or even fired.

Lack of emotional connection. Problems can be found in the way communication occurs.

Example: some organizations may have a difficult time generating a feeling of connection on an emotional level, which in workers may generate less commitment and productivity, lack of interest and the search for other alternatives. It is necessary to value that everything that is done, and even what is not, is in the communicative background.

Not understanding the context. Education of the current situation and social progress must be valued , as well as the particularities of the situation itself.

Example: In a society that is increasingly globalized, new technologies allow communication that takes into account the power of social networks and how to correctly transmit the desired information, in addition to valuing contact with potential clients from other regions of the world.

Isolation and lack of communication. Finally, the most important problem that can be extrapolated from all of the above is the possibility that there is no real communication.

Example: It is the stable and continuing use of monodirectional communication, which can generate a situation of stagnation and a lack of understanding of what happens in the organization itself. Today it is the least used precisely because it is the least efficient and useful.

 

by Abdullah Sam
I’m a teacher, researcher and writer. I write about study subjects to improve the learning of college and university students. I write top Quality study notes Mostly, Tech, Games, Education, And Solutions/Tips and Tricks. I am a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.

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