What Is Business Communication? (Definition, Process, Types, Elements & Importance)

Business communication refers to the act of communicating with another person or group of people or employees within and outside a company to achieve a specific goal. Basically, business communication is the mutual exchange of information between the receiver.

Key Takeaways

• Business communication is a two-way communication process for the employees of an organization
• Business communication can be Oral, Verbal, or Written
• Oral business communication can be formal or informal
• Writing business communication includes reports, agendas, manuals, etc.
• Verbal business communication is mostly used in official meetings, face-to-face discussions, interviews, etc.

What Is Business Communication? (The Definition)

Business Communication involves the sharing of information within an enterprise. The sharing of ideas is likely to benefit an organization. Additionally, Business Communication includes how a company decides to promote its services or product to the target audience through the means of communication.

It can be any transfer of information from one party to another and it can happen in person or electronically. There are many different forms that business communication can take such as meetings, presentations, negotiations, email, and phone networks.

In our generation today, there is no way we could exist without communication. If we want to get anything done in the workplace, we need to communicate with our superiors and co-workers. Communication is key when it comes to getting your point across effectively because you need to know how the other person will interpret what you say.

Importance Of Business Communication

Communication takes place with the mutual exchange of ideas and understanding among business personnel. To operate a business successfully, communication needs to be effective. And, management of a business relies heavily on communication.

What I meant by the basic functions of communication: planning, Staffing, Organization controlling, and Directing.

1. During the business conference, the employees require business communication to interact with CEOs and Superiors.

2. Business Communication is an important part of achieving development in the business sector.

3. You need to utilize business communication to the fullest if you wish to further your career.

Communication Objectives

1. Imparting experiences and knowledge

2. Creating awareness

3. Projecting an idea

4. Inspiring a desire or want

Business Communication: Types Of Communication

Business Communication can be divided into three types. They are as follows:

1. Oral Communication

Oral communication can be formal or informal, depending on the situation. Business Communication depends on the formal means of communication. The formal means of communication can be meetings, group discussions, interviews, speeches, etc.

The disadvantage of oral communication is they don’t usually contain concise and explanatory context.

Grapevine Communication is an example of informal business communication.

2. Written Communication

Written Communication involves writing reports, agendas, manuals, etc. to maintain communication. Written communication can include written records, official memos, flyers, posters, and everything produced on paper.

3. Verbal Communication

Verbal Communication is the oldest form of business communication. This mode of communication is performed during live meetings, personal task assignments, face-to-face discussions, interviews, and other related procedures.

Verbal Communication is considered the best form of communication as it depends on direct interaction between the participants.

The disadvantage of verbal communication is this form of communication is contingent on the physical presence of all its participants.

The Difference Between Verbal And Oral Communication

Oral Communication pertains to speech or to the mouth. Oral communication takes place in conversation, speech. On the other hand, Verbal Communication pertains to words, whether spoken or written.

Simply put, Oral Communication is performed with spoken words. Verbal Communication can be anything expressed in words. The expression can be written or spoken.

The differences between verbal and oral communication are wide-ranging and often difficult to understand. Some of these differences can be attributed to the limitations of our human speech organs, while other differences are due to the auditory processing that happens in our brains when we listen to someone speak.

Verbal communication usually starts with a greeting, proceeds to a conversation on a given topic, and ends with some form of information transfer. Verbal communication is typically between two people.

Oral communication is similar to verbal communication but it takes place in a group setting. It is a more informal form of communication because it doesn’t follow the rules of formal speech or discourse.

In the past, oral communication was the only option for businesses to get their message out. Nowadays, with the advent of social media and mobile applications, verbal communication is just one of many ways businesses can get their message to customers.

Here Are 10 Differences Between Verbal And Oral Communication.

1) Oral communication has a faster response rate than written or typed messages.

2) Oral communication is more personal than written or typed messages as it relies on facial expressions and gestures to relay information or emotions.

3) Oral communication can make you appear more knowledgeable about a topic without looking like you read it online – which some people might not appreciate as much as they could – while written messages have no such ambiguity.

4) Written/typed messages are subject to poor grammar since they are created by humans who often make spelling mistakes or use incorrect punctuation.

5) Oral communication is more spontaneous, whereas verbal communication requires careful preparation.

6) Verbal communication includes the use of body language, whereas oral communication doesn’t.

7) Oral communications are much faster than verbal communications, which can take days or weeks to complete.

8) Verbal communications are often more formal than oral communications, as they’re usually prepared for a specific audience.

9) Verbal communications are easily recorded and archived, but oral communications need an exact memory in order to be saved for future reference.

10) Verbal communication is focused on the transmission of ideas, while oral communication is focused on entertainment. Verbal communication is always explicit, while oral communication can be explicit or implicit.

FAQ

List of 7 Examples Of Business Communication Best Practices?

Communication is an essential part of any business. It plays a big role in the success of any organization and is one of the leading causes of organizational failure. As organizations are all focused on generating revenue, communicating efficiently and effectively becomes a very important skill for every employee. To help you out with this, here are 7 examples of communication best practices that you can use in your day-to-day work.

1. Listen attentively when interacting with others

2. Be polite and respectful

3. Communicate clearly

4. Maintain eye contact

5. Clarify before starting on another message or task

6. Respond promptly and efficiently if there is no response from the other end

7. Be courteous yet firm when giving feedback or opinions to

The ability to communicate effectively will be a critical skill for the future of work.

Business communication is the act of exchanging information and ideas with others in an organization. It can involve giving and receiving instructions, negotiating or setting goals, identifying and solving problems, or exchanging ideas.

What Are The 7 Functions Of Communication?

Communication is the sharing of information and ideas between two or more people in order to get the desired response.

The 7 Functions of Communication are:

1) To express and share thoughts, feelings, and experiences

2) To inform about facts or events

3) To persuade someone to take a certain action

4) To provide instructions

5) To offer an opinion or critique

6) To express sympathy, support, or congratulations

7) To get help

What Are The List Of Characteristics Of Business Communication?

Business communication is all about communicating effectively and efficiently. It requires effective messages that are communicated accurately.

There are many characteristics of business communication including:

1) Accurate and comprehensive messages

2) Clear, concise, and conversational tone

3) Open-ended questions to prompt dialogue

4) Active listening skills

Awareness of key characteristics that make up effective communication allows us to better understand how to create efficient and effective messages.

Effective communication includes “the ability to speak clearly enough for others to understand, the ability to listen attentively and comprehend what others say (or write) so as not to miss vital information, the ability to express one’s thoughts in language that others can understand”.

What Is The Process Of Business Communication?

It is a process that includes creating and maintaining an open and understanding relationship with the other party through conversations, interactions, and written messages. It is important to understand how the other person thinks, their intent, and what they would like to achieve.

The first step in the process of business communication is listening. The listener must pay attention to what is being said without forming any opinion of their own about what was said. This will give the speaker a sense that they are being heard which might encourage them to share more information with you.

Next, a response should be given in order for a successful conversation to take place. The response should not be too short or long because it could have adverse effects on how the other person perceives you. Lastly, it is important not to forget the punctuation!

What Are The Elements Of Business Communication?

Business communication is a two-way, back-and-forth process between the sender and the receiver of a message.

There are six major elements of business communication:

(1) getting attention,

(2) understanding the audience,

(3) organizing and planning what to say,

(4) writing the message,

(5) delivering the message with clarity and enthusiasm, and finally

(6) Follow up to make sure that your messages were received.

Bottom Line

Communication is the lifeblood of management. Business Communication is important since the basic functions of Management cannot be done without the establishment of effective communication.

References:
1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_communication
2. https://www.managementstudyguide.com/business_communication.htm

Last Updated on October 5, 2022 by Magalie D.