How Effective is Your Company with Business Communication?

Communication is at the core of every company's success. Whether it's communicating with employees, customers or vendors, it's an essential component for any organization. It doesn't matter if you use email, instant messaging, phone calls or group meetings, your company must succeed with this skill for long-term success. Furthermore, each employee must be working on improving their communication skills. Here are some indicators you can use to gauge your company's strengths in this area.

1. Trust in the Organization

Effective communication builds trust between the two parties. Customers will trust your service or product while employees will trust your promises. Clear communication is essential for this characteristic to be developed. You must create concise messages in a way that the other person understands. To do this, you need to use words familiar to them, not talk down to them, and speak clearly in verbal communication.

Ask a business accent coach why learning to speak clearly is so important, and they'll tell you it is to establish trust. A person doesn't trust someone they don't understand. A clear message is essential to effective communication.

2. Create an Atmosphere of Collaboration

Every voice must be heard, and every opinion valued. If this isn't the attitude of your company, you'll inhibit communication. When employees don't feel valued or customers fail to be understood, it impacts efficiency and the growth of the company. For example, when a customer calls in with a complaint, they should feel heard and understood. It's important to ask them how a resolution can be achieved and listen to their ideas.

The same concept is true when working to create new products or services. Listen to employees and customers about what they would like to see happen. Not only will this encourage them to continue speaking up, it can result in a better idea than what the experts provide.

3. Communicate with Tact

Avoid certain word choices that carry a negative connotation even if they aren't meant that way. This is true in any scenario but especially when working with people from another culture. Certain words and phrases may offend even if you don't intend to be abrasive. Companies that work with a business speech coach learn how to speak without being arrogant or offensive when talking with people around the world.

4. Be Specific

Vague communication can cause a lot of damage in an organization. It's important that everything be stated rather than implied. Otherwise, you risk a misunderstanding that can have dire consequences. Never assume anyone knows your intentions. Instead, spell it out in great detail. Furthermore, write everything down so everyone can go back and review it for clarity. It also provides a basis for future situations that are similar.

Being effective in your communication will help your business be more efficient and successful for the long term. Learn the key components to good communication and ensure your staff know them as well. Practice them, review them and then evaluate the results.

Claudette Roche is an accent reduction in the Vero Beach, FL area. She teaches foreign and American accents to actors and business persons/executives. In 2010 she was named as one of The Top 5 Voice Coaches by Hollywood Weekly Magazine.