Effective communication is necessary to relate the firm's goals and strategy to employees to ensure it can execute the strategy. The better the communication, the better people perform and produce. Communication affects relationships and teamwork. It also helps to facilitate innovation. When managers communicate effectively, they can provide constructive feedback and build good relationships. This unit explores how effective business communication benefits a company's growth.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 10 hours.
The first job of any communicator is to determine who the audience is and what their needs are. Sometimes we do this unconsciously, such as by correcting our children. However, this step should be conscious in the workplace, especially among managers and leaders. The process includes identifying the audience and adapting the message to their interests, needs, knowledge, level of understanding, attitudes, and beliefs. Only after the audience is analyzed should the message be developed. This section will explore the process of audience analysis.
The video outlines the five levels of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group communications, public speaking, and mass communication.
Watch this video about managing up and establishing relationships with senior management. Bringing solutions to the table, being proactive about solving the boss's problems, and how to appropriately challenge a boss' decision are all useful tips for working with senior managers.
There are two main styles of writing in English: formal and informal. Read this article to understand how to distinguish these two specific styles to classify the writing accurately.
This resource provides an overview of the differences and similarities between verbal and written communication. The concepts of formal and informal communication are addressed. The text also addresses how technology is used appropriately or inappropriately.
Read this article to explore the elements of presentations meant to describe knowledge about a particular event, process, object, or concept.
Read this article to explore the elements of presentations meant to have the audience share a belief or feeling about a particular event, process, object, or concept.
This resource offers some terrific tips on preparing to deliver a presentation.
This section explains the principles of nonverbal communication, types of nonverbal communication, movement when giving a speech, and strategies you can use to improve your nonverbal communication.
This resource explains how nonverbal communication can supplement or replace verbal communication. One thing to remember is that people tend to believe nonverbal communication more than verbal communication. It also explores time, physical characteristics, body movements, touch, paralanguage, artifacts, and environment.
Communicating an information signal over space requires some form of pathway or medium, such as a digital bitstream. This section describes various communication methods commonly used in business.
Suffice it to say that firms use their websites and social media to engage with their customers and stakeholders. This section will focus on using digital communications in the workplace as part of managing people and being managed.Understanding communication models helps us see specific concepts and steps within the communication process, define communication, and apply communication concepts. As we become aware of how communication functions, we can think more deliberately through our communication endeavors and prepare for effective communication. This text discusses the transmission, interaction, and transaction models of communication.
This article discusses the flow of information within an organization, including upward, downward, and horizontal communication.
Not all business communications are between you and your subordinates, colleagues, or superiors. Some communications are with other stakeholders or customers. This section provides an overview of all types of business communications, including those related to project management.
There is a relationship between good communication and getting things done. Furthermore, the right words impact the reputation of the corporation. This text emphasizes the importance of using language well to get things done.
When preparing business communication, you should consider the audience's experiences and elements that could influence how they receive and interpret the message. For example: Is your communication a follow-up of a previous message? Is your audience familiar with your topic and interested in your message? This section explores factors to consider to ensure that your communication is properly received.
Although primarily focusing on giving a speech, the process of audience analysis that it follows is helpful for any communicator. This text addresses language, values, ethnocentricity, psychological attributes, beliefs, and demographics. It also addresses some of the inferences we make about our audience. Pay particular attention to table 5.1, which is about tailoring a speech to demographic characteristics.
This resource provides a scenario to apply the information as you read. It points out the importance of self-awareness and how it affects you as a communicator and addresses tailoring your message to the specific audience, and addresses perceptual strategies.
This text will show you how to use psychographics to segment an audience. This includes looking at people's motives, attitudes, personalities, and lifestyles.
Since we have identified the audience and its needs, we need to comprehend how our audience will receive the message we are sending. The intended audience receives our message through their lens of perception. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that affect perception. Perception can distort the message we are trying to send.
The perception of the recipient becomes the filter through which they receive and interpret information. This text examines how people select information, organize it internally, and interpret it.
Watch this video to see the psychology behind the process of perception. It introduces and explains the process of perception in terms of selection, organization, interpretation, and negotiation.
Audiences are influenced by how information is organized. We all have ways to receive information and weigh what information to retain. In writing and speaking, organization refers to how we arrange the information we send. How we organize information depends on the type of message we are sending. For example, we will organize a technical report differently than a sales presentation which will be different from a legal memorandum.
Despite the differences in the types of information presented, there are some rules of organization that will help the flow in an orderly manner. Keeping the structure organized will reduce confusion and keep the audience's interest. The principle of organization also applies to cohesion within the document. This section will look at the general principles of organization, including cause/effect, chronological, comparison, emphatic order, and general to specific order. We will also consider using headings/subheadings, effective transitions, and building the reader's expectations (or, conversely, asking for action).This text explains the importance of the connection between you and your audience. It points out the importance of self-awareness and how it impacts you as a communicator.
This review video is an excellent way to review what you've learned so far and is presented by one of the professors who created the course.
Watch this as you work through the unit and prepare to take the final exam.
You can also download the presentation slides so you can make notes.
We also recommend that you review this Study Guide before taking the Unit 3 Assessment.
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.