Business Communication Assessment 2

This report analyzes the principles and purposes of a communication strategy in a business context, focusing on a case study of a London-based hotel and restaurant experiencing communication issues. It also examines the characteristics of good listeners and speakers, and evaluates personal strengths and weaknesses in both oral and written communication within a business setting.

Business
Communication

Contents
ASSESSMENT 2 - INDIVIDUAL REPORT.................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1. Principles and purposes for communication strategy..............................................................1
2. Characteristics of good listeners and good speakers...............................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
3. Evaluation of personal strengths and weaknesses in terms of communication both oral and
written in a business context........................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6

ASSESSMENT 2 - INDIVIDUAL REPORT
INTRODUCTION
Business communication refers to the sharing of ideas, information and attitudes at
organisational level that are performed for the commercial benefit of the organization. The
success and efficacy of a company to a large extend depends upon efficiency of communication
within an enterprise as well as with other organisations or outer world. The report is based on the
case study London based hotel and restaurant business that is experiencing poor communication
among its staff. The project will discuss about principles and purpose of formulating a
communication strategy. Further it will also explains characteristics that are requisite for
participants in meetings.
TASK 1
1. Principles and purposes for communication strategy
Effective business communication forms the major component for company to develop a
proficient, more loyal and motivated workers. Proper communication not only helps in
maintaining clarity in explaining roles, goals and mission of firm to employees but also to
develop a sense of belongingness and self-worth in them leading to less turnovers, absenteeism,
more committed staff etc. the major principles for effective strategic communication are as
follows:
 Principles of clarity: The message, idea or view that are to be shared or communicated
between the speaker and listener must be clearly spelt, worded in a way that is
understandable by the listener so that it is conveyed in a manner which the sender
wanted.
 Principle of attention: For effective communication process the attention of listener or
receiver must be drawn towards the sender of the message. Behaviour of people,
attention, emotions etc., makes them respond in different ways to the information or
message.
 Principle of feedback: getting feedback is necessary for facilitating effective strategic
communication in an organization. The feedback information collected from the receiver
of the message on whether he has understood the message or not in the way which sender
wanted it can render chance of making any corrections or resending message if needed.
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 Principle of informality: Formal communication in business organization is used for
exchanging messages and important information that might not achieve desired results at
times where informal communication proves effective solution. Management must
implement informal communication processes to assess the reaction of employees
towards certain policies and decisions. Principle of consistency: Communication must be always consistent with policies, plans,
programmes and objectives of the organization and does not conflict and if the messages
and communications are in conflict wit will create confusion in minds of subordinates
and to be implemented properly.
For the HR Director Hotel and restaurant it requite to maintain an effective two way
communication with its staff members for the below mentioned purposes:
 For increasing awareness and understanding of companies objectives and their roles,
responsibility in achieving them.
 To enable employees to understand rules, regulations, norms and policies of the hotel.
This aid in transferring knowledge between the top and lower levels of management.
 For increasing efficiency and performance of employees. It is as having role and goal
clarity with right directions and proficient information it becomes easy for employees to
take effective and accurate decisions.
 It helps in providing proper feedback to an individual for their performance and to
motivate them to overcome their key areas of lacking by guiding them about taking best
course of corrective actions.
Mentioned below are certain principles that HR Director of Hotel and restaurant needs to
consider while developing a business communication strategy:
 Clarity: It is a core principle for developing an efficient communication strategy. It refers
that HR Director needs to deliver the information, instruction or message in clear,
specific and concise manner to prevent any kind of mistake or lack of understanding. .
There should be clarity in words, symbols, actions that employees could easily
understand without any confusion.
 Engagement: Another most important principle of communication strategy is two way
dialogue. It requires active listening engagement and pursuit of mutual understanding
between the employees and management. It is significant as it not only aids in ensuring
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that message is understand and perceived by employees in the same context as it is
intended as well as it also helps in developing cordial relationships, mutual respect and
trust building.
 Audience Knowledge: For HR director for developing an appropriate communication
strategy it is requisite to have a thorough knowledge about primarily audience besides
knowing about cultural, social and political aspects related to them. It helps HR Director
to frame and design the message to be communicated by brining modulation in tone,
voice, content and expressions as per the intellectual level of audience.
 Responsive: Communication strategy to be developed by HR Director needs to
concentrate on desired outcomes and should be rapid and time responsive. IT should be
effective enough to address specific issues with specific employees at specified time.
 Credible: Another important principle of communication strategy is credibility and
consistency that rely on perception of trustfulness, respect and accuracy. The words,
messages, images and actions used in communicating an information should be
coordinated internally as well as externally without any perceived inconsistencies
between policy and its implementation, Also, HR Director needs to ensure that
information to be communicated must be through a trained, educated and attentive
communicator.
2. Characteristics of good listeners and good speakers
Mentioned below are certain essential qualities of good speaker and good listeners that is
requisite for HR Director of Hotel and restaurant to know about. It will not only enable him to
increase efficiency of its managers or communicators but will also guide them improve their
communication strategy by evaluating level of efficiency of its employees or audience.
Characteristics of Good Speaker
 Confidence: A highly confident speaker is viewed to be having more knowledge, more
accurate, credible, intelligent, likeable and competent in comparison to a less uncertain
less confident speaker. Thus, for a speaker confidence holds key capture attention of its
listeners.
 Passionate: Another important characteristic of speaker is to be enthusiastic and
passionate about their speech or interacting with audience. It is passion of the speaker
that convenience and made their audience to agree with the thoughts of the speaker.
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 Connect with audience: A skilled speaker is knowledgeable about importance of audience
engagement in conversation to maintain their interest and to know whether they are
understanding the relevance or context of the speech or not. For this presenter needs to
work on nonverbal body language, to be aware about the target audience and to be able to
introduce humour or fun element for keeping the energy of their audience high. Keep it short and Sweet: the main objective of speaker during a meeting is to attempt to
make the audience understand their point of view in clear and simple manner. Thus, a
good speaker needs to ensure that their presentation is short, precise, attractive and
effective enough to convey main crux of the message or information to its audience. Awareness: Good speaker is aware about the quality that allows choice over actions and
develops awareness to pick up behaviours that serves the audience and leaves the ones
that distracts listeners from message. Authenticity: Being genuine in communication is the quality of good speaker even if it is
vulnerable and feels inappropriate in certain cases. The authenticity of a good speaker
and message will connect the listeners or audience humanity and renders them to be
authentic.
Characteristics of good listeners
 Pay Attention: It is requisite for a listener to be attentive at the time of speech or meeting
without been getting distracted by fellow colleagues, or thinking about some other things
than main topic. Also it is quality of good listener to avoid the trap of selective listening
that induces them to listen what is been communicated by the speaker rather and not what
initially they want to hear.
 Do not interrupt in between: Another essential characteristic of a good listener is that they
never ask question or interrupt the speaker in between until he finishes. Thus the most
important asset of listener is patience.
 Take Notes: One of the major quality of good listener is that they take down notes of all
important and key points of the conversation. This not only helps in summarizing and
clarifying doubts which might arise but also help them to remain attentive and avoid
distractions.
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 Urge clarification: Good listener helps in exploring underlying problems of something
particular rather just using vague descriptors and assist in understanding the issues and
dig way below the surface.
 Separates disagreement from critism: Good listeners will disagree with the speaker
without showing disrespect.
 Doesn’t moralize: Good listeners do not get judgemental about the message if it’s against
the norm rather they recognizes and accepts irrationalities making the speaker be honest.
TASK 2
3. Evaluation of personal strengths and weaknesses in terms of communication both oral and
written in a business context
Reflection
Good communication is helping factor which is providing me a chance to develop
effectual and cooperative relationship in the organization which is making my work simple.
Strong communication skills of mine is rendering me accurate information sharing from
employees, coworkers and management. I believe that efficient communication is one of the
major personal strength that makes me to talk or interact within the workplace. I enjoy having a
conversation with people of various cultures as it renders me a chance to learn and understand
more about a varied lifestyle and languages. I am an outgoing individual which is making me to
communicate effectively with people in the organization and deliver valid information. While
preparing and writing business emails to stakeholders and management or customers I provide
enough details to avoid confusion which is another strength of mine. I make the emails, reports,
and investigations regarding business simple and meaningful to avoid complexity and
communication failures. Being a good listener I am able to communicate in an efficient manner
thereby making e a good communicator. Active listening by paying attention to other person’s
words helps to respond in a quick and satisfying manner where I am able to deliver my feelings,
facts and ideas which are actually needed at that point of interaction. Clarity and concise
information delivering while preparing business reports, client communication through chat, mail
etc. is another strength of my written communication skill. Being flexible, open minded helps me
in communicating with people whom I disagree that paves way for entering in a conversation
honestly and productive manner.
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My weaknesses in communication is my inability to speak in front of the large group or
masses that is causing hindrance to my management and leadership skill. I become nervous and
anxious while delivering information to workers in the organization failing to present the ideas or
facts regarding work and organization. Gesture and body languages are another weakness of
mine that is causing me shyness while communicating that renders a different opinion and
impression in the minds of audience. Talking too much on a particular topic or rendering
elaborated facts is another weakness of mine that causes listeners get bored which distracts their
attention from my words which causes impact on message conveyed. Eye contact and gestures of
mine does not connect or sink with my word of speech which makes me demotivated while
communicating with employees within the organization. To convey the information to everybody
sometimes I need to use hand gestures, eye contact and tone variations which I lack making
failed communication or incomplete transfer of information in the organization. Due to
multinationals working in the organization, I find it difficult to convey mu true thoughts,
emotions and feelings towards workers in the organization. My tone and accent being different
makes listeners feel agitated and angry that hinders in communication which results in conflicts
and issues which is the major weakness of my communication skill.
CONCLUSION
Effective business communication is necessary for exchanging and sharing information
between external and internal environment of an organization to facilitate smoother and efficient
operations of the company. It helps in building good relationship between employer and
employee that can help in increased productivity and performance of the organization. The report
undertaken concludes that business communication forms integral part for the success of a
business. For the HR Director of Hotel and restaurant it is essential to develop a communication
strategy by incorporating all the principles of effective business communication strategy. Further
certain characteristics of good listeners and speakers is been explained that could be taken into
consideration by company to develop effective communicators.
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