Business Language ©2003 voice ergonomics®

In business and in all of life, we constantly use language to solve language problems. 

“ By definition, a problem is any stimulus, question, task, phenomenon, anomaly, discrepancy, or perplexing situation. We want to focus on performance under challenging conditions that demand strategic reasoning, insightfulness, perseverance, creativity, and craftsmanship to resolve a complex problem.” 
                                                                                  ~Arthur L. Costa, 1991 

Business is a constant "language" experience.. Conducting business requires that we be able to efficiently, effectively, and successfully use language to solve language problems. This means using clear, concise, complete and productive communication... on our feet in the moment!

Business language is used in multiple aspects of conducting business. Professionals are constructing formal and informal professional correspondences, emails, conducting tele-conferences and business meetings, presentations, developing and training processes and procedures, communicating with a diverse employee and customer population, "managing up" and "managing down" communication, and in, general accurately representing their expertise and the company through written and verbal expression. It's all about how we use the language of Standard American English to accurately and effectively conduct business.

Business language refers to the ability to express our thoughts, feelings, ideas, questions, experiences, wants and needs using the professional structures of sounds, word usage, professional vocabulary, abstract language, non-verbal language, and grammar to effectively conduct business. This includes written and verbal communication.

Voice ergonomics® provides the identification, development and training of needed and essential business language. The tools of business language enable business to effectively, efficiently and confidently take place in
the conversation!

Corporate Services:

• Identification of needed business language tools. 
• Development of customized programs. 
• Training of flexible, confident day-to-day effective, efficient use of these business language tools. 

Examples of business language coaching requested by our clients: 

• Written business language skills-formal and informal. 
• Verbal problem solving skills for "managing up" and
  "managing down". 
• Presentation skills - organization and delivery. 
• Executive Communication for Foreign-born Professionals. 
• Interview skills 
• Conducting business tele-conferences. 
• and more.... 

How are these tools used in the corporate business environment?

• For all written language. 
• For Effective Professional Verbal Problem Solving - thinking and communicating on your feet within the moment: in meetings, teleconferences, presentations, phone calls, training, the process of research and development, customer service, and more. 
• Decision-making in day-to-day business. 
• The language of "managing up" and "managing down". 
• For communication using Standard American English when English is not one's first language. 
• For communication with a culturally diverse workplace and
  customer population. 
• For casual professional conversational situations. 
• AND....there are countless other "language" dependent business activities conducted in business every day. 
• We provide individual and small group professional development training programs in professional verbal problem solving and business language skills. 
• All corporate services are customized.

Contact us for more information. 

What “Grade”does your Business
Language “earn”?

The daily use of business language has dramatic impact on business flow and  the bottom line.

We use language to solve language problems with one another in research and development, implementation, conferences, written documentation, processes and procedures, mentoring, managing up and managing down, presentations within the company and throughout the business community, We use language to express thoughts, articulate feelings and opinions, share and develop ideas, ask meaningful questions, answer those questions, state intentions, describe and share professional experiences and a host of other essential business  components.

Review your perceptions of the impact of business language on daily business effectiveness, efficiency, time-lines and the bottom line.

Does the QUALITY of business language earn:  

A  - B  - C  -  D  -  F   And why?

Consider:

• What is working and what is not?
• Do employees get frustrated? Why.
• Communication gaps and breakdowns.
• Inability to maximize professional talent due to undeveloped communication skills.
• Time spend resolving communication misunderstandings, gaps, and break-downs.
• How frequently topics and issues are un-necessarily re-visited.  If so….why?
• How cultural diversity (regional and foreign) impacts successful efficient, effective communication.
• The professional listening skills essential for
  effective communication.
• Professional communication courtesy.

1. Cultural diversity in business (regional and foreign) presents a unique communication challenge. Misunderstandings frequently can arise in communication among culturally diverse professionals.
   
     
   

• Use of Standard American English.
• Body language.
• Tone of voice.
• Vocabulary.
• Cultural customs for asking and answering questions.
• Professional grammar.
• Interpersonal cultural business customs and style of interaction

The workplace has become an international environment. Communication “gaps” and “breakdowns” occur among professionals. Does your business listening shut down when someone is difficult to understand? Are meetings longer and often unproductive? Is business communication a challenge because of regional and foreign accents, cultural differences in interpersonal business interactions and customs, differences in body language, unclear word usage and grammar in written and verbal exchanges? Are professionals unable to effectively demonstrate their talents because of business language limitations?  Are professionals unable to advance because of less than effective language skills? Would the company reap greater benefit from professional talents if business communication skills were more complete and easily understood? Do seemingly unnecessary misunderstandings occur from communication gaps and breakdowns? Do you get only bits and pieces of what others say because you cannot understand them? How much time is spent after these exchanges trying to fill in the gaps to figure out what the person said or wanted done? How many times is “fill in the blank & guessing” incorrect, resulting in wasted company time, employee energy and creativity, delayed time-lines, and company money?

2. Written Language can include:  
   
   
• Emails and correspondences
• Written processes and procedures
• Note taking for meetings
• Daily Documentation
• Performance evaluations and reviews
• Professional papers
• Presentations within and outside the company,
• etc.

Are they well organized? Is the message clear, complete, concise and to the point? Are they grammatically correct and composed of effective vocabulary? Do they maintain a positive productive dialogue in which business can take place? Are they direct and goal focused? Do they demonstrate professional courtesy and respect, within the organization, with customers, clients, company to company and in the community? 

3. Presentations can include verbal presentation of business information in collaborative settings.  
   
   
• Meetings.
• Teleconferences.
• Video-Conferences.
• Explaining / training processes and procedures,
• Research and development meetings to develop strategies, to solve problems, to introduce innovative ideas, to introduce and review policies and procedures, documentation, etc.

Are they well organized? Is the story quickly “put out there” with details to follow? Are they clear, complete, concise and to the point? Is professional grammar and speech consistently used?  Do you stay focused on the topic? If one drifts off topic is there a moderator to redirect the group to the primary purpose and focus? Do group participants demonstrate respect for those speaking? Are time consuming off topic segments a regular part of conferences and meetings? 

What’s the over-all grade?

• Strengths:

• Weaknesses

• Communication skills which could benefit from improvement

Contact us for more information.