BEST PRACTICES IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONMARISSA HART

ORG536 – CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS WRITING AND COMMUNICATION

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY – GLOBAL CAMPUS

DR. PHILLIP JACKSON

MARCH 1, 2015

BEST PRACTICES• Always assume that your audience may not have a full

understanding of what you intend to communicate

• Make sure to put things in the simplest of terms

• Use effective language

• For effective comprehension of the subject that you intend to deliver, make sure you understand the subject fully

• Avoid abbreviations, acronyms, references to strategic methods it is your responsibility to make sure that the recipients of the message understand and comprehend to the fullest extent the message that you are delivering

• Make sure that corporate communication is a two-way street that not only can the hard-working frontline let their voices be heard but management also since direct clear and honest answers to the front line.

• Set a communication foundation from the top down.  If communicating goals and or strategies, make sure the goals and strategies are realistic, measurable, and that they can be accomplished and within what time frames; Communicate the time frames.

• Always remember to use things in the concept of we and us. never using the concept of  I.

• Show a level of care and appreciation in all statements issued by the corporation remember that the actions of management are much louder than words but words can damage the direction of any project.

• The smallest of mistakes in a communication can make all the difference in the world to a companies success or failure.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Corporate Communication

Electronic Media Communication

Business reports, plans, and proposals

Positive and Negative Messages

Corporate communication, electronic media communication, business reports, plans, and proposals and positive and negative messages all have an impact on the success of the organization and should be handled appropriately. Best practice in these types of business communication are extremely important.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION

• Communicate goals and strategies

• Be sure to include realistic, measurable, attainable results

• Ensure that there are no typos and/or spelling errors

• Formal and informal communications are both necessary

ELECTRONIC MEDIA COMMUNICATION

• Must represent the organization well

• Must be honest and engaging

• Executives are expected to be the spokes people

• Training for all staff

• Develop social media policies

• Consider the difference between internal and external communications

ELECTRONIC MEDIA CONT.

• Media is the vehicle through which organizations can deliver their communication:

Where the recipients are now.

Information through electronic media

Where the recipients should be after the

information

BUSINESS REPORTS, PLANS, AND PROPOSALS

• Encompass the bulk of professional writing

• Never create or circulate anything that the organization wouldn’t want on the front page of the newspaper

• Not necessary to be overly formal

• All information should be relevant

• Be clear and concise: use words to form pictures in the readers mind

• Tone: Inviting and Positive

RELEVANT INFORMATION

Who

What

Where

When

How

Why

• All communication should include only relevant information.

• All communication should be professional and relevant and should be written with tact and a responsibility to the organization and its goals and values.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE MESSAGES

POSITIVE MESSAGES

• Recognize good work

• Managers can model positive communication

• Positive messages create a positive culture

NEGATIVE MESSAGES

• Include a positive message before communicating a negative

• Negative communication can essentially destroy and organization if not handled properly

REFERENCES• Boerner, C. M. (2014). Building Communication and Leadership

Skills. Journal Of Health Care Compliance, 16(6), 39-40.

• Christensen, M. (2014). Communication as a Strategic Tool in Change Processes. Journal Of Business Communication, 51(4), 359-385. doi:10.1177/2329488414525442

• Conrad, D. (2014). Workplace Communication Problems: Inquiries by Employees and Applicable Solutions. Journal Of Business Studies Quarterly, 5(4), 105-116.

• Eisenberg, E. M., Johnson, Z., & Pieterson, W. (2015). Leveraging Social Networks for Strategic Success. Journal Of Business Communication, 52(1), 143-154. doi:10.1177/2329488414560283

REFERENCES

• Karanges, E., Beatson, A., Johnston, K., & Lings, I. (2014). Optimizing employee engagement with internal communication: A social exchange perspective. Journal Of Business Market Management, 7(2), 329-353.

• Thomas, G. F., & Stephens, K. J. (2015). An Introduction to Strategic Communication. Journal Of Business Communication, 52(1), 3-11. doi:10.1177/2329488414560469

• Vidaver-Cohen, D., & Brønn, P. (2015). Reputation, Responsibility, and Stakeholder Support in Scandinavian Firms: A Comparative Analysis. Journal Of Business Ethics, 127(1), 49-64. doi:10.1007/s10551-013-1673-7