Business Communication

 Why is effective business communication needed?

• To consider verbal and non verbal communication methods
• To understand and practice effective listening
• To communicate in clear, respectful, and non-judgmental ways
• To know when to seek advice

Communication is the medium used to convey our thoughts, and it is complete only if we get an acknowledgement back. 

• To get your message across to others clearly and unambiguously
• Successful when the sender and receiver understand the same information
• To convey your thoughts and ideas effectively

Unsuccessful communication results in :

• Communication breakdown
• Ideas that do not reflect your own
• Roadblocks personally and professionally

Keep it simple, clear and convey what need to.

• Step 1: Aim
• Step 2: Compose
• Step 3: Transmit
• Step 4: Feedback
• Step 5: Analyse/ Learn/Change
• Step 6: Improve

Types of communication

• Verbal: Sounds, words, language and speaking
• Non Verbal: Physical like tone of voice, touch, smell and body motion
• Written: Writing in words, things that need to be communicated
• Visual: Photography, topography, signs, symbols and design; Television and Video clips 

Communications can be passive, aggressive or assertive.

• Find angles that interest you. Ask yourself "what is it in for me", " How will it benefit me"?
• Focus on the content (email/on call)
• Hold the fire until the speaker is finished
• Listen for ideas/facts/ importance of content
• Note taking
• Active listening
• Resist distractions
• Mindfulness/Exercise your mind
• Understand salutations
• Address right pronunciation
• Practice grammar (Articles, Prepositions, Tenses, Subject - Verb agreement) 

When communicating be mindful of:

• Pronunciation: the way in which word is pronounced is important
• Enunciation: the act of announcing, proclaiming, making known, open attestation
• Rhythm: 
• Customized and personal
• Consistent and Strategic
• Honest and Supportive
• Intonation: the rise and fall of the voice in speaking
• Rate of speech: term given to the speed at which you speak
• Pause Management: Prepares the listener to receive your message
• Voice modulation: It's when you choose to go louder or softer, faster or slower , dramatic or emotional.

A sentence has its beauty only when it has it's punctuation. There are certain barriers to communication namely:

• Physiological Barriers: That hampers our ability to listen are hearing deficiencies and rapid thought processing. A person who has difficulty hearing will either miss critical information or will be so focused on trying to hear the words, that his energy is diverted from processing it. Rapid thought processing involves trying to process the information too quickly.
• Physical Barriers: Hamper your ability to listen to someone, since you're distracted by your own discomfort.
• Attitudinal Barriers: The fear of seeming ignorant, but not asking for clarification on something you don't understand is an attitudinal barrier. (eg. you can't properly decode information that doesn't make sense to you/impatiently waiting for your turn to speak)
• Cultural Barriers: Different native speaking or mother tongue influence on Verbal communication