Key Terms
Group
Two or more people who share common interests or traits; they identify with each other but don't necessarily work toward
Team
People with different skills and different tasks who work together on a common project, combining functions and providin
Channels take three forms
Verbal, nonverbal, and written.
Business communication serves multiple purposes
Promoting products or services, relaying information internally, managing legal issues, building trust, and driving job
Effective communications share five traits
Thoughtful, clear, specific, brief, and timely.
Jargon
Unfamiliar or overly technical language obscures meaning. Fix: use clear, concise language anyone can understand.
Withholding information
Confidentiality policies can create gaps. Fix: make necessary information readily accessible.
Chain of command
Hierarchy slows information flow. Fix: reduce unnecessary levels; increase cross-departmental interaction.
Lack of trust
Competition-driven culture suppresses sharing. Fix: involve employees in decisions; communicate openly and honestly.
Physical barriers or disabilities
Hearing, vision, or speech impairments. Fix: build accessibility into both internal and external communication.
Bias
Preconceptions lead to stereotyping or false assumptions. Fix: use unambiguous, neutral language.
Filtering
People hear what they expect or want to hear; message received rarely matches message sent exactly. Some distortion is d
Language and cultural differences
Norms vary significantly across cultures. Fix: educate about cultural sensitivities; tailor messages to the audience.
Rich channels
High interactivity, two-way communication, nonverbal cues available, immediate feedback possible.
Lean channels
One-way, no immediate interaction, just the information.