Business Communication Styles

Communication in a business style is now important for representatives of any specialties, as career success largely depends on effective communication. Business style sometimes differs significantly from ordinary interpersonal communication, and moreover, in different enterprises and in different fields, one may encounter one's own communication features that are accepted in this circle. However, the general rules of business etiquette are the same for everyone.

At work, all communication is reduced to solving certain problems - this is what distinguishes a business conversation from any other. Work contacts are highly standardized, so there is little opportunity for creativity in such communication. Nonetheless, even in a tight framework, one can and should show their individuality - This will help to quickly find contact with new people, win over opponents and effectively achieve goals. It is important to consider the specific features inherent in corporate speech etiquette.

Business communication is vertical and horizontal. The first option involves communication between the boss and the subordinate - usually this is an official-business option, requiring subordination. Horizontal communication involves contact with colleagues: such conversations can be approached more creatively, usually they require compliance with fewer rules.

Business communication can take place within the company or involve communication with potential customers, partners or investors. Such communication will have its own specifics. In particular, When building external contacts, you should be very careful and adapt to the interlocutor. When a person can understand the motives of partners in the communication process, he can act more boldly, for example, skillfully use manipulation or introduce elements of interpersonal communication into a conversation.

In a business conversation, it is important to take into account the specifics of professional activity. If a person works in a bank or in a law firm, the accepted standards of interaction with colleagues and bosses will be as strict and official as possible. If he works in the field of art or in the entertainment industry, then flexibility of style is important - it should be business, but not too formal. Proper use of slang and professional jargon may be required.

It is impossible to clearly describe the communication process and classify all communicative situations, giving them a clear description. In business communication, even if it is strictly regulated, each participant in the dialogue brings something of his own. The subtleties of such communication depend on the personality of the speaker, his temperament, experience, goals and objectives. Work situations are also complex, and within the framework of negotiations alone, a number of issues are simultaneously addressed. Nevertheless, it is possible to conditionally divide business communication into three styles:

• Manipulative. Style implies that the speaker sets the topic of dialogue and makes decisions unilaterally during the discussion. In fact, the speaker uses his partner to achieve certain goals in the dialogue process, sets the scope of the conversation and leads to answers. Such communication is characteristic, first of all, for the corporate training process. In addition, the manipulative style can be used to exercise control. Finally, in the negotiation process it is this style that allows you to persistently convince your opponent.

• Ritual communication style serves to maintain a certain image. This style is usually the most regulated. Their rituals can be within the same company, grow, as well as the same for all business people. This style includes everyday communication between superiors and subordinates, discussion of organizational issues, and maintaining business contacts with partners.
• Humanistic style implies mutual interest of the participants in the communicative situation in the common cause. This implies mutual assistance, help and support that people give each other. The personal qualities of partners are not evaluated from the positions of good or bad, but simply taken into account. This style is relevant for solving current working issues among peers with different specializations.

Each style of business communication can have its own focus. By the orientation of communication is understood the relationship of one person to another, which is based on the requirements of a particular situation, the belief system and experience of the speaker, and it is expressed in the choice of communication tools. Different directions may be appropriate or inappropriate in various communicative situations.

If a person wants to build a constructive dialogue, then It is very important to be able to communicate with a different focus - it depends on the goals and the behavior of the interlocutor:

• Dialogue focus - This is a focus on mutual respect, cooperation and equal dialogue. It is characteristic of the humanistic style of business communication: openness, freedom of expression and an attempt to understand each other can become the basis for successful cooperation and development on an equal footing.
• Authoritarian focus expressed in the clear dominance of one of the partners in communication. This option may be appropriate for a manipulative style.

• Manipulative orientation - this is the desire to get their own benefit from the communicative situation. Most characteristic of a manipulative style. Nevertheless, the situations within this style can be very different: training involves manipulation directly, and tough negotiations mean hidden manipulation. These two situations require different communication skills.
• Alterocentric orientation - this is the orientation towards the interlocutor in the communication process, the desire to understand him and satisfy his needs. This orientation works well in the process of communication with investors, partners and customers. At the same time, it can be observed in a humanistic, and sometimes in a ritual style.

• Conformal orientation - This is a focus on submission in the process of communication, refusal of opposition, reactive communication. It will be appropriate in some situations within the framework of the ritual style, and this approach is also characteristic of communication in a manipulative style, when one of the partners dominates communication, and the second is adjusted. For example, this happens during training.
• Indifferent orientation most often characteristic of ritual communication. The essence of the problems raised in communication is ignored in this case, the dialogue is completely stereotyped. A similar orientation may be appropriate within the framework of a manipulative style. For example, in the process of negotiations, indifferent communication is one of the main patterns of behavior.

Now there are many trainings on business communication, in which examples of dialogues and their detailed analysis are presented. Nevertheless, it is best to learn from practice in the process of real communication in different genres of business communication. The genres include negotiations, interviews, meetings, business conversations, telephone conversations. Communicative situations at the intersection of business and interpersonal communication belong to the emotional-creative genre.

In order to correctly choose the styles and focus of business communication, you need to pay attention to a number of important nuances:

• In modern business culture, it is not customary to abuse the manipulative style in communication: often it is inappropriate. At present, even when training new personnel and trainees, the humanistic style is often used - the student should be listened to, have an equal dialogue, proceed from his personal qualities and give freedom of expression, if possible. In the negotiation process, a manipulative style may be appropriate, but by no means always. Success can be considered if it is possible to solve the problem using the humanistic style so that all parties are satisfied with the result.
• Ritual communication cannot be neglected. Any person speaks in a similar style more often than he thinks. Even on-call conversations with colleagues relate specifically to the ritual style. It allows you to maintain good relations and a friendly atmosphere in the team, even if there are any conflicts.

• The humanistic style is the most productive for solving certain problems within the framework of one team. Nevertheless, in communication in this style, the equal contribution of all participants in the dialogue, their activity and interest, is very important. If someone begins to communicate in a manipulative, conformal or indifferent direction, it becomes more difficult to maintain a communicative situation within the framework of a humanistic style.
• Not all working situations are fully standardized.. Often, to establish a productive dialogue it is very important to open up to the interlocutor, since it is the elements of personal communication within the business that often help to establish contact, win over a person and achieve goals.

You will learn more about the styles of business communication from the next video.