Skip to main content

Communication Methods

Communication Methods

Advertisements

Introduction

We all know the importance of communication in our daily lives. Nothing can take place without some method of communication being used to express ourselves for whatever purpose.
Communication is even more valuable in a business environment as there are several parties involved. Various stakeholders, whether they are customers, employees or the media, are always sending important information to each other at all times.
We are therefore constantly using some form of communication or another to send a message across. Without these different methods of communication available today, it would take eons for us to carry out business as efficiently as it is done today and with the same speed.
Let's try and understand what these methods of communication are.

Types of Communication

Numerous new instruments have emerged over the years to help people communicate effectively.
Communication Method

Oral Communication

Oral communication could be said to be the most used form of communication. Whether it is to present some important data to your colleagues or lead a boardroom meeting, these skills are vital.
We are constantly using words verbally to inform our subordinates of a decision, provide information, and so on. This is done either by phone or face-to-face.
The person on the receiving end would also need to exercise much caution to ensure that he/she clearly understands what is being said.
This shows therefore that you would need to cultivate both your listening and speaking skills, as you would have to carry out both roles in the workplace, with different people.

Written Communication

Writing is used when you have to provide detailed information such as figures and facts, even while giving a presentation.
It is also generally used to send documents and other important material to stakeholders which could then be stored for later use as it can be referred to easily as it is recorded. Other important documents such as contracts, memos and minutes of meetings are also in written form for this purpose.
It can be seen in recent years, however, that verbal communication has been replaced to a great extent by a faster form of written communication and that is email.
You could also use video conferencing and multiple way phone calls with several individuals simultaneously. Apart from a few glitches that could occur, these methods of communication have helped organizations come a long way.

Body Language

Although the most common methods of communication are carried out orally or in writing, when it comes to management techniques, the power of non-verbal communication must never be underestimated.
Your smile, your gestures and several other body movements send out a message to the people around you. You need to be mindful of this while dealing with your employees and customers.
Always remember to maintain eye contact. This would show that you are serious and confident about what is being said.

Why Do We Need Different Communication Methods?

You may ask why it is important that we use different methods of communication in one organization.
The answer is very simple. The reason for this is the pivotal role that communication plays in the effective functioning of a business.
Imagine an organization today without e-mail facilities. How would a customer then be able to send an important proposal quickly and directly to the employer in-charge? Similarly, an organization may have to stall their work if certain managers are not in the country and are thereby unable to give a presentation to the board.
But, of course, this can be done today with the help of video conferencing.
Therefore, it is crucial that different methods of communication are employed.

Choosing the Right Method

It is important that the most cost-effective methods of communication are chosen for any organization. Simply choosing a method of communication due to it being a famous instrument is not going to help.
You would need to understand the needs of your organization in particular. There are certain questions that you would need to ask:
  • What is our target audience?
  • How much are we willing to spend on such an instrument?
  • Will it increase employee productivity in the long run?
  • What kind of information do we send out most often?
You may have more questions to ask based on the type of work you carry out and the message that you need to send across. Remember that there is no 'right' method of communication. You would need different methods for different purposes and tasks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to always remember the importance of communication in an organization.
The methods of communication you choose could in a sense make or break the management structure of your organization and could also affect your relationship with customers, if not chosen carefully.
It is vital therefore that you spend some time choosing the right methods to aid you in your management tasks.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Education of India Part 2

History [ edit ] Main article:  History of education in South Asia The remnants of the library of  Nalanda , built in the 5th century BCE by  Gupta kings . It was rebuilt twice after invasion, first after an invasion from the  Huns  in the 5th century BCE and then after an invasion from the  Gaudas  in the 7th century CE but abandoned after the third invasion by  Turkic invaders  in the 12th century. Takshasila  (in modern-day Pakistan) was the earliest recorded centre of higher learning in India from possibly 8th century BCE, and it is debatable whether it could be regarded a university or not in modern sense, since teachers living there may not have had official membership of particular colleges, and there did not seem to have existed purpose-built lecture halls and residential quarters in Taxila, in contrast to the later Nalanda university in eastern India.  Nalanda  was the oldest university-system of education in the world in the modern sense of university. There al
Post a Comment
Read more

Save a Workbook in another File Format

  Save a Workbook in another File Format When you save an Excel 2013 Workbook, by default it saves in the  .xlsx  format. Excel 2013 supports saving in other formats, but whenever you save a workbook in another file format, some of its formatting, data, and features might not be saved. File Formats (File Types) that are supported in Excel 2013 − Excel File Formats Text File Formats Other File Formats Excel File Formats Format Extension Description Excel Workbook .xlsx The default XML-based file format for Excel 2007-2013. Cannot store Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro code or Microsoft Office Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm). Strict Open XML Spreadsheet .xlsx An ISO strict version of the Excel Workbook file format (.xlsx). Excel Workbook (code) .xlsm The XML-based and macro-enabled file format for Excel 2007-2013. Stores VBA macro code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm) Excel Binary Workbook .xlsb The binary file format (BIFF12) for Excel 2007-2013. Template .xltx The defa
Post a Comment
Read more

Change in Charts Group

  Change in Charts Group The Charts Group on the Ribbon in MS Excel 2013 looks as follows − You can observe that − The subgroups are clubbed together. A new option  ‘Recommended Charts’  is added. Let us create a chart. Follow the steps given below. Step 1  − Select the data for which you want to create a chart. Step 2  − Click on the  Insert Column Chart  icon as shown below. When you click on the  Insert Column chart , types of  2-D Column Charts , and  3-D Column Charts  are displayed. You can also see the option of More  Column Charts . Step 3  − If you are sure of which chart you have to use, you can choose a Chart and proceed. If you find that the one you pick is not working well for your data, the new  Recommended Charts  command on the  Insert  tab helps you to create a chart quickly that is just right for your data. Chart Recommendations Let us see the options available under this heading. (use another word for heading) Step 1  − Select the Data from the worksheet. Step 2  − C
Post a Comment
Read more