People are at the heart of every business, whatever the sector. Whether you work in technology, finance, or marketing, people matter most. For this reason, it’s unsurprising that communication is one of the most in-demand skills by Canadian employers.
With the constant introduction of new technology and digitalization of the workplace, business communication is changing. Studying at the Academy of Learning Career College (AOLCC) will help to equip students with the hands-on training they need to excel in their professional journey.
Read on to discover some top tips for effective business communication, so that you can form meaningful connections with colleagues, managers, and clients throughout your future career.
Learn to Listen in Business Administration Careers
Communication should be 75% listening and 25% speaking. However, all too often, people are more focused on what they want to say, rather than what they can learn from someone else.
Listening to others will help you to succeed in your business career as you will be constantly learning. Engage with others and ask questions, as there is always something that you can learn from your colleagues and managers.
Keep it Simple
Einstein apparently once said ‘if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough’, and this is true in business administration careers as well as science. Using big words and long, convoluted sentence structures doesn’t make you clever, it makes you confusing.
Effective communication means translating an idea or message so that the other person can understand it. The moment when you start communicating simply with the reader in mind is the moment you start communicating effectively. Simple language and syntax are easier to understand, especially if the reader or listener is in a hurry.
Valuable business connections are made face to face, not over email
Speak Face to Face or Over the Phone if Possible
Modern technology makes it easier than ever to communicate exclusively via email or text. However, lasting business relationships, as well as positive work culture and feelings of belonging, can only be made face to face. Communication should be done in person or over the phone whenever possible. This will help you get a better understanding of your client or colleague and help you build a strong, mutually beneficial relationship. As well as this, it’s much easier to communicate tone and message by voice, and this will avoid any awkward misunderstandings. This is particularly important if it’s a difficult or sensitive topic matter.
Write Clear Emails and Proofread Your Messages
If you do need to stick to email because of time constraints or in order to CC in multiple people, there are ways to make emails easy to understand after graduating from business training. Firstly, use numbered bullet points to address multiple points. These can make long emails more digestible for the reader and are a useful way of dividing long emails. This will also enable the respondent to respond point by point.
Secondly, don’t be afraid to send multiple emails with different subject lines if you need to address multiple points. If you are nervous about sending the addressee multiple emails within a short timeframe, you can warn them in the first email by saying: “I will be addressing Project X and X in my next two emails to keep things simple.” This will help you avoid having multiple different conversations in one email chain and getting things confused.
Before hitting the send button, make sure you take a few minutes to proofread. Even if it’s a short email, small typos can cause big misunderstandings.
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