Free Training & Career Tips... Subscribe to Get Weekly Career Tips
By Subscribing You are Agreeing to Terms and Conditions
There is no doubt that the pandemic both tested and transformed business communication as we know it – from integrating new communication software like Teams and Zoom to becoming an ‘instant soup’ email writer in a New World of Work, where remote and hybrid working rule the order of the day. How we communicate in the workplace as well as in our personal lives, will never be the same again.
With remote working, hybrid working, and flexible working, traditional ways of communicating have become obsolete, and people have been forced to adapt to the shifts that have taken place. This means that more so now than ever, getting your message across succinctly is a vital skill, especially when your target audience’s time is limited. And this has become a critical factor since a simple spelling mistake, typographical error or grammatical faux pas can give the impression that you haven’t put in the necessary effort. The truth is that in the New World of Work technology has made a writer out of just about everyone and writing is a visible skill that is a direct reflection of your level of professionalism.
The writing’s on the wall
Yet, not everyone is an expert. And there is no instant recipe for good business communication. While technology and social media have provided us with instant communication and publishing platforms of every description, using a ‘Just add water and stir’ approach can often do more harm than good. In essence, while new communication technologies make things easier, there are certain guidelines that need to be followed to ensure that you are communicating effectively when your writing is literally on the wall for everyone to see.
Don’t make these common ‘comma’ errors
The importance of the correct use of punctuation and grammar cannot be over-stated. Often, incorrectly punctuated sentences can convey an entirely distorted meaning. Here are some examples:
The intended meaning of the following sentence is to illustrate the importance of a woman in a man’s life. The punctuation in sentence a) conveys the opposite meaning with the inappropriate placement of the comma. Sentence b) is the correct way to punctuate this sentence to convey the intended meaning. The same words punctuated differently convey completely different meanings.
- a) A woman, without her man, is nothing.
- b) A woman, without her, man is nothing.
The intended meaning of the following sentence is to invite Grandma to dinner. However, using no punctuation in sentence a) suggests that one would like to eat Grandma! The correct placement of the comma in sentence b) alters the meaning entirely and conveys the correct sentiment.
- a) Let’s eat Grandma.
- b) Let’s eat, Grandma
The intended meaning of the following sentence is to convey the message that people who are travelling often worry about their luggage. The correct placement of the comma in sentence a) conveys this message clearly. However, the incorrect placement of the comma in sentence b) shifts the meaning of the sentence entirely and conveys the message that people who are time travellers often worry about their luggage. Hence, the meaning of sentence b), with the incorrect placement of the comma, is suddenly changed from something ordinary into a scenario from a science fiction book involving time travel.
- a) Most of the time, travellers worry about their luggage.
- b) Most of the time travellers worry about their luggage.
Stick to the 7 C’s and you won’t go off course
In basic terms, the 7 C’s of Communication is simply a set of principles to follow when writing and speaking to ensure that communications are effective. Their function is therefore to make sure that those who you are communicating with accurately understand the message you are putting across. Accordingly, these principles are:
Technology is the way to go
Since the pandemic, we are constantly reminded of the important role technology plays in business communication. Recent statistics reveal that over 80% of employees feel that problems in the workplace are a result of the lack of effective communication.
In the wake of remote and hybrid working, it is vital that businesses ensure they have the most appropriate communication tools such as live chat software like Zoho Desk and video conferencing tools such as Teams and Zoom to ensure their employees stay connected and remain productive.