Chapter 1 - Success In Business Communication Flashcards
What are some workplace benefits of effective communication mentioned in the text?
Lower employee turnover rates and better expression of ideas
Why is it crucial for individuals to possess good communication skills in their jobs?
Good communication skills are necessary to persuade, explain complex material, and adapt information to specific audiences
According to the text, what rank does communication ability hold among qualities employers seek in college graduates?
Communication ability consistently ranks first among the qualities that employers look for in college graduates
What percentage of corporations surveyed stated that at least two-thirds of their employees have writing responsibilities?
Almost 70% of respondents said that at least two-thirds of their employees have specific writing responsibilities
What are some common writing responsibilities for employees, according to the survey?
Email, presentations with visuals (e.g., PowerPoint slides), memos and correspondence, formal reports, and technical reports
According to research, how much more do workers in the top 20% of writing ability earn compared to those in the bottom 20%?
Workers in the top 20% of writing ability earn, on average, more than three times as much as workers in the bottom 20%
What common shortfall among college graduates is noted concerning their readiness for the workforce?
College graduates often lack the necessary writing skills when they enter the workforce
What rank does communication hold among qualities employers seek in college graduates, according to the overview?
Communication ranks first among the qualities employers look for in college graduates.
How many major corporations were surveyed by the National Commission on Writing, and what percentage stated that at least two-thirds of their employees have writing responsibilities?
120 major corporations were surveyed, and 70% of them stated that at least two-thirds of their employees have writing responsibilities.
List some specific writing responsibilities mentioned that are common among employees in the surveyed corporations.
Writing responsibilities include emails, presentations with visuals like PowerPoint slides, memos and correspondence, formal reports, and technical reports.
How much more do workers in the top 20% of writing ability earn compared to those in the bottom 20%?
Workers in the top 20% of writing ability earn, on average, more than three times as much as those in the bottom 20%.
What was a significant finding regarding the writing skills of college graduates entering the workforce?
A survey found that writing was one of the weakest skills of college graduates.
What costly consequence can result from poor communication, as demonstrated by the British Petroleum, Halliburton, and Transocean oil spill incident?
Poor communication can result in dramatic costs, including billions in fines and significant environmental and human impacts.
What are the seven basic criteria for effective business communication?
The criteria include clarity, completeness, correctness, adherence to conventions, saving the audience’s time, building goodwill, and being ethical.
What types of internal and external audiences might a business communicator need to consider?
Internal audiences include subordinates, supervisors, and peers. External audiences include customers, suppliers, distributors, unions, stockholders, potential employees, trade associations, special interest groups, government agencies, the press, and the general public.
What legal issues can arise from poor communication?
Poor communication can lead to legal problems, such as lawsuits from misleading or incorrect information, and individual communications like emails and texts can have legal consequences.
How does effective communication contribute to building and maintaining goodwill?
Effective communication helps to present a positive image of the communicator and their organization, treats the message recipient respectfully, and strengthens relationships.