Chapter 4: Navigating the Business Communication Environment

1. Chapter 4: Navigating the Business Communication Environment Jordan Chapman Jordan Abdella Ebony Lewis Jaquetta Frazier

2. Technology • Electronic tools-wikis, instant messengers, portable media players, personal digital assistants, telepresence • Social networking-larger organizations are adapting to social networking for business reasons. Allows employees to post a profile, blog, or useful links which help workers interact on a more personal level. • Information overload- slowdowns caused by an overwhelming amount of information being passed through networks. (email accounts, web sites, blogs, cable, etc.) • Data security- DO NOT provide important personal information through email! (identity theft effected more than 270 organizations in 2007) • Electronic privacy- Do Not post a blog about something a current or future employer should not see. In most states an employee can be fired for almost anything except discrimination.

3. Trends in Business Communication • Focus on quality and customer’s needs- customer satisfaction has been a rising priority among businesses since the 1990s. • Entrepreneurship- Since 1980 the number of businesses in the US has risen faster than the civilian labor force. • Diversity- Employees MUST be able to work well with others even if they come from different ethnic backgrounds. • Globalization and outsourcing- more companies are opening up in different regions around the world and outsourcing meaning going outside of the company for products and services that were once produced by the company’s employees. • Balancing work and family- companies are trying to become more family friendly. • Teamwork- employees teamed up by different strengths in order to complete harder tasks. • Job flexibility- the “9-5” job is irrelevant in today’s business world. Employees must be flexible about tasks asked to complete and hours worked. • Rapid rate of change- No college course can teach everything about the business world. Trends are always changing and employees must stay up to date with the current trend. • Innovation- As global competition increases companies must stay innovative to stay at the top of consumer favorites • Concern for the environment- increases as global warming becomes an increasing concern. More and more companies are expanding their knowledge of the environment in order to “go green”.

4. Ethics • Over the years concern of ethics has increased due to unethical and illegal corporate practices. • The public motivated congress to pass the Sarbanes-Oxley, which requires corporations to be more careful in controlling and reporting financial activities. • Most people are afraid to report unethical activities within a business because of fear of losing their job. • On the other hand, positive ethical efforts are increasing as well! • A lot of businesses are committing to social responsibilities and joining the fight against international bribery.

5. Corporate Culture • Strong influence on the business environment • Corporate cultures differ vastly between companies • Ex. Google is known for company gyms, pools, and ping-pong tables, well-stocked snack rooms, free restaurants, and casual work attire. Ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky has a stuffed elephant and a fire pole, plus some teepees to use as conference rooms. Personnel get around on bikes and skate boards. Whole Foods features a collaborative environment. Each department, such as meats or vegetables, is a decentralized team, and performance bonuses go to teams, not individuals.

6. Interpersonal Communication • In the corporate environment, communication varies from each individual. • Listening is crucial in order to build trust. One must be an active listener and acknowledge what the other is saying by nodding, smiling, frowning, etc. • One must become familiar of the conversational styles between different employees. Learning about another employees pauses, interpretation of interruptions, and how much interest to show in questions is important in business communication. • Nonverbal communication is communication that does not use words. Make sure fellow employees interpret those non verbal comments in the same way you do! • Networking with fellow employees is underappreciated in the business world. Use networking to connect with your business group and to create diverse connections in order to have someone to turn to when additional experience is needed outside of the company.

7. Time Management • Multitasking is false belief that is that more gets done. We are actually switching back and forth between tasks when we think we are multitasking which results in the task actually taking longer. This holds true especially when communication tasks are involved. • Studies have shown that it can take up to 50% longer to multitask.

8. Your First Full Time Job • Reread all your materials on the organization, its competition, and the industry. • Network with people in the field as well as your new colleagues. • Talk to recent hires in the organization…Ask them what they found to be helpful advice when they started. • Fit into the corporate culture by being observant…Watch what people wear, how they act, how they talk…Watch how they interact during meetings and in the break room..Look at the kinds of emails and letters people send…discover who people go to when they need help. • Use your breaks effectively…stop by the coffee station, water cooler, or break room occasionally to plug into the grapevine. Find a successful person who is willing to mentor you. • Ask a lot of questions even if it is embarrassing. • Seek opportunities for feedback…what you hear may not always be pleasant, but it will help you become a more valued employee quicker.

9. Your First Full-Time Job Continued… • Learn the jargon, but use it sparingly. • Be pleasant and polite to everyone, including support personnel. • Be punctual…arrive for work and meetings on time. • Be dependable. • Be organized. • Be resourceful. • Use technology professionally…keep cell phone on vibrate or turn it off…don’t visit inappropriate web sites. • Be discreet…be careful what you say and where you say it…above all be careful what you put in emails. • Go the extra mile…help out even when you are not asked…put in extra hours when your help is needed. • Take advantage of voluntary training opportunities. • Document your work…collect facts, figures, and documents…you will need this info for your performance review. • Enjoy yourself!!!enthusiasm for your new job and colleagues will have you part of the team in short order.

10. Summary of Key Points • Technology • Trends in Business Communication • Ethics • Corporate Culture • Interpersonal Communication • Time Management • First Full Time Job