Learning About Expressive Bussiness Communications
Communication lies at the heart of any business. In fact I would even go so far as to say that without communication there can be no business. This did not mean believing they were stupid (something business people often wrongly assume about those who read their communications) but that they just knew nothing about what I was trying to get across. Believe me if it is possible to misunderstand something then people will.
You should never write as though you were having a conversation. When you have a conversation it usually means that part of the message is assumed. I’ve often read in books about writing that you should think of yourself having a conversation. Writing is a tool of communication; it is not simply a way of conveying a conversation.
A little while ago I was involved in a project where we had to redevelop part of a web site. This meant that our conversations became very annoying for both of us. I was frustrated that they couldn’t understand what I was talking about and they were frustrated that I couldn’t understand what they were talking about. It was only because I said something that immediately made the other person see we were talking about different things that suddenly we started making sense to each other.
The real trick is to write in such a way that you communicate your message without overdoing the detail. This is a problem about 90% of web site suffer with. Clearly there are good reasons for such thinking and many organizations take that advice to heart and it becomes policy. Any communication expert who studies business communication will tell you that such things need to be handled very carefully to keep employees and team members fully engaged.
Is it true that not everyone can be trusted with information? Well, information is power and if you power-up those who cannot control their integrity levels or choose not to, then in a way giving them the information makes you an accessory to their actions. For instance, many folks have a lot of knowledge, experience, observations, insight and original thoughts.
But, like water it does flow, information, like living organisms want to be free. Thus, the information just like water stopped in the river by beavers, well, eventually it will find a way, it always does. As the saying goes; lose lips sink ships.
There is little doubt that the business world locally, nationally and globally has been forever changed by the information age. Today, the world is closer together than ever before and an economic crisis in any one country has far-reaching effects elsewhere around the world. But, what will these new technologies be that increase businesses communications speed of transmission and bandwidth be like? Remember it was not long ago you were chugging along on your dial-up access on your 286 IBM Clone computer and you were quite amazed at its abilities when it first came out.
Soon, we will have super small devices that operate by voice and eventually by thought. And you will have holographic projection technologies using spectral imagery. Well, think about it for a second, you can collaborate on designs. You will be able to see a miniature of whoever you are talking too, watch the body language and get a much better feel for the conversation.
Tags: business communication
Related Posts