Succeeding Through Effective Communication Prentice Hall 2005 Business

Succeeding Through Effective Communication © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 1

Effective Communication • Quicker problem solving • Stronger decision making • Increased productivity • Steadier work flow © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 2

Effective Communication • Stronger business relationships • Clearer promotional materials • Enhanced professional image • Improved stakeholder response © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 3

The Changing Workplace • Advances in technology • Information overload • Global communication • Workforce diversity • Team-based organizations © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 4

The Communication Process • Sender has an idea • Sender encodes the idea • Sender transmits the message • Receiver gets the message • Receiver decodes the message • Receiver sends feedback © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 5

Improving Business Communication • Ethical considerations • Audience-centered approach • Intercultural sensitivity • Workplace sensitivity © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 6

Committing to Ethical Communication • Unethical practices – Plagiarism – Selective misquoting – Misinterpreting numbers – Distorting visuals © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 7

Recognizing Ethical Choices • Ethical dilemma – Stakeholders • Conflicting loyalties • Difficult tradeoffs • Ethical lapse – Business pressures • Illegal choices • Unethical choices © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 8

Making Ethical Choices • Is the message legal? • Is the message balanced? • Can you live with the message? • Is the message feasible? © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 9

Audience-Centered Approach • Understand biases • Consider education • Factor in age • Recognize status • Acknowledge style © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 10

Improving Intercultural Sensitivity • Culture – Shared system • • • Beliefs Attitudes Values Expectations Norms © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 11

Recognizing Cultural Differences • Context • Ethics • Social customs • Nonverbal communication © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 12

Cultural Context • High context • Low context – Decision-making practices – Problem-solving techniques – Negotiating styles © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 13

Legal and Ethical Behavior • Seek common ground • Withhold judgment • Send honest messages • Respect differences © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 14

Social Customs • Work and success • Roles and status • Use of manners • Concepts of time © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 15

Nonverbal Communication • Gestures • Body language • Personal space © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 16

Negative Cultural Attitudes • Ethnocentrism • Stereotyping © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 17

Overcoming Ethnocentrism • Acknowledging distinctions • Avoiding assumptions • Avoiding judgments © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 18

Written Intercultural Skills • • Use plain English Strive for brevity Strive for clarity Use transitions Use proper addresses Avoid slang and idioms Cite numbers carefully Keep paragraphs short © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 19

Oral Intercultural Skills • Minimize noise • Obtain feedback • Speak slowly • Clarify intent • Do not talk down • Be accurate © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 20

Oral Intercultural Skills • Learn foreign phrases • Listen carefully • Adapt your style • Check for understanding • Clarify the next step • Watch body language © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 21

Improving Workplace Sensitivity • Assume differences • Take responsibility • Withhold judgment • Show respect • Empathize • Tolerate ambiguity © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 22

Improving Workplace Sensitivity • Look past the superficial • Be patient • Be persistent • Admit cultural biases • Remain flexible © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 23

Improving Workplace Sensitivity • Look for common ground • Send clear messages • Deal with the individual • Learn when to be direct • Test your understanding © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 24

Reviewing Key Points • Communicating effectively • Adapting to the changing workplace • Learning the communication process • Improving business communication © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Essentials 25