Business Communication Etiquette

Abstract

This paper discusses business communication etiquette standards while focusing specifically on verbal communication, nonverbal communication, telephone (to include cell phones and text messaging) communication, and email communication. Each of the aforementioned communications categories are defined and explored, and the etiquette standards for each are explained and related to employees, businesses, and interactions with customers, clients, and fellow employees.

Business Communication Etiquette

Introduction

Technological advances and the expanding scope of businesses have increased both consumer and business awareness. This manifestation has caused organizations and society to explore and redefine standard business communication etiquette (Okoro, 2012). Some rules may seem obvious and recognizable, while others have borrowed similar standards from less current forms of communication (i.e. cell phones borrowed from telephones), but one fact remains true: etiquette standards exist because they need to. Without a standard of communication at work, employees may cause themselves, and therefore the business, to come across as rude and uncouth in a society that offers many options for customers to do business with. Internally, etiquette is still vital for ensuring civility and accurate communication between employees and departments.

Communication is more than a simple exchange of words, there are a myriad of other factors that affect the way the speaker presents his or her message and the way the receiver decodes said message. In spite of technological advancements, 90% of employees believe that significant conversations should take place in person (Etiquette of modern communication, 2005), but that is not always possible in the business world. Business communication practices must be very versatile in order to successfully interact with other employees, departments, or even international cultures. Employees must be able to learn and utilize...