Ways to improve business communication

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Effective communication is very important to running a successful business. Good communication can make you love your clients, increase your brand image among older people, and make them admire you among those who work for you. It can also help you take your business to the next level and make big profits. On the other hand, poor communication can limit the efficiency of your business. It can result in missing vital business deadlines, duplication of work processes, and most importantly, it can affect employee morale. According to a study carried out by Global English, “97% of the employees surveyed believe that poor communication as a result of an inadequate knowledge of the company language can lead to misunderstandings”.

There is often a lot of disconnect in the communication process, which can be very costly for a business. They can be verbal misinterpretations, lack of interaction, missed emails, and unclear texts or poorly worded messages. Effective communication, both internal and external, increases the effectiveness of the organization, enables smooth operations, and helps reduce business contingencies. Communication is generally of two types: digital and interpersonal. Here are some helpful tips to improve these two, which can benefit your organization and keep things running smoothly.

Digital communication: Most business communication is generally done through digital media, such as email. Writing emails or text messages is easy when we break up with a friend. The target audience in companies is corporate stakeholders, so it is always best to be formal. Even a small mistake in your written communication could negatively affect your credibility. It can also result in loss of reputation and business. Here are the basic points to follow when writing a business proposal, email, or other business letters:

  • Always treat emails like actual emails, not just digital letters. As you compose an email, use powerful words, develop a natural voice, work toward your goal, and present a clear deadline.

  • Please compose your email with care. Go back, check and edit for clarity. Polish each and every sentence so that communication is clear, positive and effective.

  • Do not put any wrong or unclear information. Check your details before sending the mail. Any wrong information makes it look like you haven’t done your homework.

  • Do not use emoticons, colloquialisms or jargon, it may result in the loss of the translation and the person reading your email may not understand what you are talking about. Keep it simple and to the point.

  • Choose the best subject line for your message. The subject line is the first introduction to the content of the message to the recipients. Also, it helps to keep your message out of the junk mailbox.

  • And the most important thing is to archive all your commercial communications. Create folders to store all old emails. It will help you easily find any communication in the future.

Interpersonal communication: It is a face-to-face communication and involves the exchange of information and meaning through verbal and non-verbal messages. Sometimes an email or text message just isn’t enough. Digital communication does not imply any direct communication. No one watches you write, but when you meet someone face-to-face, a lot of things matter, like your tone, body language, and eye contact. Your message should be clear, concise, and straight to the point. Add the tips mentioned below in your interpersonal communication to make it meaningful:

  • Be confident in meeting your clients or superiors and don’t feel shy in person-to-person meetings. Maintain adequate eye contact to make a good impression.

  • Listen carefully and give your full attention to the conversation. Understand what the opposite person is saying and then give your own thoughts.

  • Focus on your speech. Think before you speak and don’t get confused with your own words. Doing this will dilute the purpose of the face-to-face meeting.

  • Keep communication professional and avoid making it too personal. It’s good to befriend the people you work with, but don’t make it too friendly.

  • Never counter your customer’s opinion, even if they don’t agree. You can offend them. Listen to them carefully, then keep your point of view and explain why you disagree with them. But be sure to keep your tone courteous.

  • Ask questions to clear all your doubts and concerns. It will also help keep the conversation going and generate new ideas that would be useful in business.

These were the few suggestions that you can implement in your communication strategy and make it effective. Following these will not only improve your business performance, but also the personal improvements you make in your own life. It will also help boost your self esteem and decision making and also make you stand out from the crowd. Effective communication is always about understanding the other individual, not forcing your opinions on others and winning an argument.

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