Efficient communication is the key to operating a successful business. If the fundamentals of good communication are not in place, a business can rapidly lose clients and credibility. It is perhaps the most important business tool that an organization can invest in. There are a number of ways organizations can ensure their communication is top-quality. One such method that is most relevant in today’s marketplace is that of business software to develop one’s writing and editing abilities.
Whether it is a business proposal, email, letter or marketing, business communication – including writing and editing – is of paramount importance to the economic bottom-line of a business. It is often easy to overlook bad organizational communication as having a direct impact upon business profits.
The Costs of Poor Communication
As Egan (1995) suggests, the outcome of substandard written communication in business can impact upon a company in significant ways. These can be both unanticipated and expected. This is where business software can assist – providing stakeholders with the skills to overcome poor communication.
Egan (1995) presents a number of case studies, where incomprehensible manuals; misinterpreted communication in memos; hard-to-read reports; the use of complex language; and the incorrect use of punctuation in an order, cost businesses millions of dollars in organizational time and money.
Miller and Lehr (2007) maintain that there are a number of factors that communicators should keep in mind when trying to get that all-important message across:
- Remember the ‘information overload’ factor. The amount of information we are confronted with on a daily basis is staggering. We have to filter what we read and what we memorize on a continual basis. Business communication is no different. It is important that communication is to the point and is succinct.
- Provide useful subject lines that are able to be quickly categorized and considered. This not only avoids the wait time for responses where organizations have to work out how they to respond, it also saves organizational time if the communication is internal.
- Tailor to the reader of the message. That is, consider what the reader requires and then write the message according to that. It is of no use writing something with your own goals in mind without considering the intended audience.
- Re-read, re-read and re-read. Never send off business communication without checking through for accuracy a number of times. Quality communication is the lifeblood of your business – it is worth it.
When to Use Business Software
In terms of using business software to improve communication within an organizational environment, you can’t afford to overlook StyleWriter. This software specifically provides writing and editing tools to those involved in business communication (e.g., lawyers, government officials, engineers, educators and accountants). Some of the direct benefits are: time and money savings, to-the-point writing and clearer communication.
There is no denying that business communication is the single most important function in an enterprise. Get it wrong and you get the entire business wrong. For efficient and accurate editing of business documents, business software like StyleWriter can improve sales letters to attract more clients; avoid ambiguous wording in contracts; draw-in more website traffic; and increase media exposure for your press releases.
References
Egan, M. (1995) ‘Total quality business writing’, The Journal for Quality and Participation, 18 (6): 34-38
Miller, J. and Lehr, D. (2007) ‘Writing Tips to Avoid Career Disaster’, Cost Engineering, 49 (12) 18-20.