Business Communication: Impact of Values, Attitudes, and Self-Esteem

This essay delves into the multifaceted realm of business communication, emphasizing its critical role in fostering effective interpersonal relationships within professional settings. It meticulously examines how values, attitudes, and self-esteem significantly influence communication dynamics. The essay elucidates the impact of values, both explicit and implicit, on shaping perceptions and judgments, thereby affecting the flow of information and the building of trust. It further explores how attitudes, including cognitive, affective, and conative components, can either facilitate or impede communication, particularly in the context of prejudices and preconceived notions. Finally, the essay underscores the significance of self-esteem in interpersonal communication, highlighting how it impacts an individual's willingness to engage, their ability to handle stress, and their overall effectiveness in professional and personal interactions. The essay concludes by reinforcing the importance of value-based communication and the development of positive attitudes for successful outcomes.

Running head: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Interpersonal communication may be defined as the exchange of important information
and details between two or more individuals. Effective communication skills are important in
interacting with others and help in the advancement of interpersonal relationships between the
speaker and listener. During the process of interpersonal communication, information is sent by
one individual and received by another (Robinson et al. 2013). Effective interpersonal
communication takes place when both the message sender and the message receiver understand
the message and the output of the conversation is successful. Development of proper skills for
interpersonal communication is extremely important. These often include active listening, proper
feedback giving and receiving skills, maintaining proper body language while communicating,
maintenance of courtesy and many others. This assignment will try to highlight how effective
interpersonal communication is influenced by values, attitudes and self esteem.
Values can be defined as principles as well as standards or qualities which an individual
or group of people consider in high regards. Values are those attributes which help in guiding the
different ways people lead their lives and take proper decisions. Values are attributes which
individuals hold dear along with those qualities which those individuals consider them to be
worth of. This is one of the most important traits in an individual that often influences his
interpersonal communication skills. Values make people judgemental and thereby it has
immense impact on the communication between two individuals. Values which are important to
speakers may not match with the values of the listener and hence it plays an important role in
interpersonal communication. Researchers are of the opinion that values dictate about how
individuals should be behaving and therefore this procedure can totally modify the interpersonal
communication skills of an individual (Rosenberg 2015). Values may be of two types. The first
type of values may be explicit which are mainly stated overtly in value judgment. It may be also

2
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
implicit which can be inferred in non-verbal behaviour. They are usually held or seen as a part of
cultural system as well as pattern. Therefore an individual will often develop several cultural
values which reflect in his interpersonal skill and thereby modify the communication that takes
place between that individual and other listeners. Researchers are of the opinion that cultural
values are also an important set of values besides personal values of an individual. Culture bound
values are exceptionally important for intercultural communication. These values involve power
distance as well as uncertainty avoidance (Mackie and Hamilton 2014). Moreover individualism
versus collectivism and masculinity are also important attributes that come into play during
interpersonal communication. Low and high context communication as well as immediacy and
expressiveness, self disclosure and also emotional and behavioral expressiveness are important
elements that modify interpersonal communication.
In schools, colleges, science, business and many others, often people are trained to talk
in third person and mention just about facts which leaves values out of communications.
However, in reality, these result in less understanding of the messages and the messages are also
not well absorbed. When an individual gets the scope of expressing values confidently, the words
about new behaviors or alternative solutions not only surprise people but also help in grabbing
attention. These value based conversation helps listeners drawing in and also earns their trust.
Beside values helping in grabbing attention, it also helps in finding common good.
When individuals talk about their values, they can connect with people and thereby find common
grounds and build consensus. It might happen that likeminded people can often disagree of the
various types of details of new initiatives as well as a proposed legislation also disagreeing and
discussing how to achieve it. However, the same people can find common good when different
principles are taken in consideration like opportunity, liberty, equality, family as well as fairness.

3
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Guiding values and principles can help individual’s engaged in communication to find consensus
which at a high level can open doors as well as minds leading to more fruitful discussion.
Being relevant is also an important value in interpersonal communication besides finding
common good. When individuals are engaged in interpersonal communication while speaking of
their values, they actually speak common languages which are relevant. Researchers are of the
opinions that connecting to audiences with the help of words, symbols, images and stories
grounded in values eventually help in making new ways accessible and also relevant to busy
lives of the people (Samovar et al. 2014).
Researchers are of the opinions that values resonate in human hearts, minds as well as
gut. They are of the opinion that when emotions and reasons collide, emotion variably wins.
They are of the opinion that values work not only at the level of the mind but they also touch the
emotional workings of the hearts and are expressed as gut instincts.
Being honest is yet another value based interpersonal communication that brings out
successful outcomes among individuals. When individuals are stating their values clearly as well
as consistently, they automatically give authenticity to their words spoken in interpersonal
communication. When individuals communicate about hat each of them stand for like the values
that guide their businesses, their work life, their personal lives, the principles that they pass on
the children and others, their words get marked by authenticity the famous cognitive linguist
namely George Lakoff had already stated that “A position on issues should follow from one’s
values, and the choice of issues and policies should symbolize those values.”
Attitudes are usually conceptualized by the presence of three important components.
These involve cognitive, affective as well as conative components. They play an important role

4
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
in developing interpersonal communication skills. The cognitive components mainly involve
beliefs of different individuals about their attitude objects. The affective component involves
different emotional as ell as evaluative reaction to that of the attitude object. The last one is the
conative component. This mainly involves the behavioral intentions developed towards the
attitude object (Prllas 2014).
One of the most suitable example that can be depicted as a disruptive attitude during
interpersonal communication is racial prejudices. Researchers above define prejudices in
communication as a judgment which remains based on the individuals previous experiences as
well as decisions. Prejudices in interpersonal communication may be of two different types
which often affect the quality of the conversations between individuals. They are either positive
or negative. Although prejudices can be determined as both positive and negative, there remains
a high tendency of individuals to determine them as negative. Researchers are of the opinion that
negative ethnic prejudice actually mainly refers to act as a negative attitude. It can be defined as
an antipathy which remains based on faulty as well as inflexible generalization. This may be felt
and expressed during interpersonal communication which may affect the opposite listener and
may affect relationship development and bonding (Koerner and Fitzpatrick 2013). This kind of
attitude may be directed towards group as well as whole of the race or even towards an
individual as he or she may belong to the race. This type of attitudes is criticized ad therefore
individuals should try to develop positive attitudes with equal outlook towards all which when
expressed in interpersonal communication will bring out positive outcomes.
Attitudes and perception also impact business communication in both positive as well as
negative ways. Often employees develop extreme views and thereby fail to see others
perspectives. They develop the attitude that the opposite person is wrong and therefore this

5
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
attitude involuntarily gets reflected in interpersonal communication creating feeling of disrespect
for each others. Again there are individuals with similar attitudes who inadvertently overlook
instances of miscommunication. This is mainly because they develop the attitude that they are
always in agreement with the other.
Interpersonal communication may be affected by impact of pre-established attitudes. If
one individual has a firm attitude about a particular issue, he is likely to communicate about it
with a very strict and black-and-white perspective. If one individual is determined that starving is
the best way of getting lean, then even most comprehensive and compelling arguments for the
need of balanced diet will not register with that person as she had developed a pre-existing
attitude. This affects proper flow of interpersonal communication because this ingrained way of
thinking impacts the individual’s ability to accurately and fully comprehend anything other than
what she herself believes in (Greenwald 2014).
Attitude of preconceived notions often affects the ability to accurately communicate in a
given situation. For example, if an individual colleague comes up with an opinion of conducting
survey to measure the needs of employees and the later employees had already developed a
notion that surveys do not provide proper results, then the latter’s attitude will impact on the
accurate and effective communication between both the individuals (Abrams, Zimbres and Carr
2015). Often attitudes developed form previous experiences can also affect a present
interpersonal communications the individual may show judgmental attitudes towards the current
situation.
Another issue found due to improper attitudes is incomplete communication. When an
individual leader is assigning new member of the team, his attitude may make him perceive that

6
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
the new member is already experienced and can thereby provide best results. So he did not
communicate with him properly by through training. This incomplete communication due to
improper attitudes may result in loss of the teamwork and may affect productivity.
Researchers are also of the opinions that overly optimistic attitudes assign can cause
ineffective forms of communications. Often many individuals remain too casual with their
approach and attitudes that do not care for reminders and last minute workers or unmet deadlines
which are not met on time. Due to such attitude, communication may not simply register with
him.
Often individuals may have the attitude of always providing a conflicting in to every
interpersonal communications and thereby people may find it difficult to communicate with
civility. Often this results the individual in avoiding others and thereby limit all forms of his
communication and interactions. This often leads to a variety of miscommunication problems.
This is mainly because they would neither step forwards to clarify and solve issues or take
responsibility for problems which rise because of their joint failure to communicate (Heiss et al.
2015).
Self esteem is the value that one places on herself or himself. Self esteem help to
understand out identity and develop belief in ourselves. It I how an individual feels and how he
perceives himself to be. People with high self esteem are usually found to be more outgoing.
Therefore, they are more willing to communicate and try harder to complete a task even for the
second time after failing for the first time. As they communicate effectively, they seem to
perform well academically and professionally. They remain more shielded form any from of
stress and tensions. On the other hands, it is found that lower self esteem makes individual

7
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
aggressive towards others which makes communication difficult with such person. Three
important components of self esteem guide interpersonal communication. These are need for
control; need for inclusion as well as the need for affection. It is not that the individuals with
higher self esteem need all the three components in higher amounts but that they are more
successful at meeting these needs through their interpersonal communications with the others in
comparison to those who has low self esteem.
Conclusion:
From the entire discussion, it becomes clear that changes which we want to see can come
from value based businesses and mission-driven non profits which communicate form their
values. Different articles, speeches as well as calls to action which remain grounded in values
help in properly infusing every activities and works with power and meaning. It also makes sure
that the chorus of the voices is consisted as well as honest. Maintaining proper values in
interpersonal communication ensure successful outcomes in development of relationships both in
personal and professional fronts and help in enhancement of one’s own personality. Harboring
proper attitudes are also exceptionally important for every individual for marinating effective
interpersonal communication. Improper attitudes may involve being overly optimistic, becoming
judgmental, occurrence of conflicts, incomplete communication and many others which affect
the communication procedure and failure of effective outcomes. Individuals who have higher
self esteem can communicate more effectively than those with lower self esteem. Therefore these
three are indeed important aspects of interpersonal communication and should be properly
developed by all to achieve success in life.

8
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
References:
Abrams, K.M., Zimbres, T. and Carr, C., 2015. Communicating Sensitive Scientific Issues: The
Interplay Between Values, Attitudes, and Euphemisms in Communicating Livestock
Slaughter. Science Communication, 37(4), pp.485-505.
Greenwald, A.G., 2014. Why attitudes are important: Defining attitude. Attitude structure and
function, 429.
Heiss, S.N., Carmack, H.J. and Chadwick, A.E., 2015. Effects of interpersonal communication,
knowledge, and attitudes on pertussis vaccination in Vermont. Journal of Communication in
Healthcare, 8(3), pp.207-219.
Koerner, A.F. and Fitzpatrick, M.A., 2013. Communication in intact families. Routledge
handbook of family communication, pp.129-144.
Mackie, D.M. and Hamilton, D.L. eds., 2014. Affect, cognition and stereotyping: Interactive
processes in group perception. Academic Press.
Pellas, N., 2014. The influence of computer self-efficacy, metacognitive self-regulation and self-
esteem on student engagement in online learning programs: Evidence from the virtual world of
Second Life. Computers in Human Behavior, 35, pp.157-170
Robinson, J.P., Shaver, P.R. and Wrightsman, L.S. eds., 2013. Measures of Personality and
Social Psychological Attitudes: Measures of Social Psychological Attitudes (Vol. 1). Academic
Press.
Rosenberg, M., 2015. Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton university press.

9
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Samovar, L.A., Porter, R.E., McDaniel, E.R. and Roy, C.S., 2014. Intercultural communication:
A reader. Cengage Learning.