Importance of good business communication skills

Good communication skills are increasingly important in uncharted and complex competitive environments

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Business people without exception can cite instances where a project deadline was not met, a customer complaint was not handled well or stockholders were not well informed about the status of the business. While there are usually extenuating circumstances that caused the glitch, almost always poor or inadequate communication was part of the problem. Good business communication could have helped alleviate the situation.

Good Business Communication

Good communication means the intended message you send is received by your audience without any distortions in meaning. This definition applies to not only personal communication among friends or relatives, but to business situations where you may be communicating with a co-worker one-on-one or in a meeting with several or more people. The key here is clarity.

Good Communicators Generally Do Good Work

Good business communication helps get the job done well, on time and on budget. The boss or team member who can communicate objectives, reasoning and step-wise tasks in a concise and coherent manner contributes more to a company's success than one who does not. These communicators are highly valued in today's complex and competitive business world, and are often earmarked for promotion and increased responsibility.

Related Reading: The Importance of the Grapevine in Internal Business Communications

Controlling Communications Flow

Today there are many more ways to communicate than there were just a few years ago and access to communication devices is almost universal in most businesses. Communication is also almost instantaneous. The ease with which you can use a laptop, cell phone or other device to communicate with co-workers, clients and others has made doing business easier. But, it can have drawbacks. To ensure your business is using modern communication effectively make sure you have ways to archive information for later access. For example, a salesperson needs to archive email messages from and to clients so that exact job specs are readily available and jobs are handled properly.

Cross-Cultural Communication

In today's global economy, businesses cannot ignore the importance of cross-cultural communication. Businesses are finding that it is in their best interest to learn about national, cultural and ethnic groups they need to communicate with to grow their businesses. Knowledge of language nuances and local customs are important to that growth as a misstep can cause a lost sale or a delayed project.

Keep It Simple

Good business communication is simple and easily understood, a rule often overlooked by managers and team members. This is especially important when preparing a document, speech or presentation that is a game-changer for the company. Simple and concise language wins over language that is obtuse and hard to understand.