Business communication styles

Communication in a business style is now important for representatives of any specialty, since career success largely depends on effective communication. The business style sometimes differs significantly from ordinary interpersonal communication, and moreover, at different enterprises and in different spheres one may encounter their own communication peculiarities, which are accepted in a given circle. However, the general rules of business etiquette are the same for everyone.

At work, all communication comes down to solving certain problems - this is what distinguishes a business conversation from any other. Work contacts are highly standardized, so there is little room for creativity in this kind of communication. Nevertheless, even within strict frameworks, you can and should show your individuality - this will help you quickly find contact with new people, win over opponents and effectively achieve your goals. It is important to take into account 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 that requires compliance with the chain of command. Horizontal connections involve contacts with colleagues: such conversations can be more creative, they usually require adherence to fewer rules.

Business communication can take place within the company or involve communication with potential clients, 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 is able to understand the motives of partners in the process of communication, he can act more courageously, for example, skillfully use manipulation or introduce elements of interpersonal communication into the conversation.

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

It is impossible to clearly describe the communication process and classify all communication 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. Situations at work can also be complex, and within the framework of one negotiation, a number of issues are resolved in parallel. Nevertheless, business communication can be roughly divided into three styles:

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

• Ritual communication style serves to maintain a certain image. This style is usually the most regimented. Their rituals can be within the framework of one company, branch, and also the same for all business people. This style includes everyday communication of bosses with subordinates, discussion of organizational issues, maintaining business contacts with partners.
• Humanistic style implies the mutual interest of the participants in a communicative situation in a common cause. This implies the mutual assistance, help and support that people provide to each other. The personal qualities of partners are not assessed from the standpoint of good or bad, but are simply taken into account. This style is relevant for solving current work issues in the environment of equal colleagues with different specializations.

Each style of business communication can have its own focus. The direction of communication should be understood as the attitude of one person to another, which is based on the requirements of a particular situation, the belief system and the speaker's experience, and it is expressed in the choice of communication means. Different focus may be appropriate or inappropriate in different communication situations.

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

• Dialogic focus 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 at mutual understanding 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 may be appropriate for a manipulative style.

• Manipulative focus - this is the desire to get your own benefit from the communicative situation. Most characteristic of the manipulative style. However, situations within this style can be very different: learning implies direct manipulation, and hard negotiation implies covert manipulation. These two situations require different communication skills.
• Alterocentric orientation - this is an orientation towards the interlocutor in the process of communication, the desire to understand him and satisfy his needs. This focus works well in the process of communication with investors, partners and clients. At the same time, it can be observed in a humanistic, and sometimes in a ritual style.

• Conformal directivity - this is an orientation towards submission in the process of communication, refusal to counteract, reactive communication. It will be appropriate in certain situations within the framework of the ritual style, and this approach is also typical for communication in a manipulative style, when one of the partners dominates in communication, and the other adjusts. For example, this happens when teaching.
• Indifferent directivity most often characteristic of ritual communication. The essence of the problems raised in communication is ignored in this case, the dialogue is completely stereotyped. This focus may be appropriate within the manipulative style. For example, in the negotiation process, indifferent communication is one of the main patterns of behavior.

Now there are many trainings on business communication, which provide examples of dialogues and their detailed analysis. However, it is best to learn by doing by doing actual communication in different genres of business communication. The genres include negotiations, interviews, meetings, business conversations, telephone conversations. The emotional and creative genre includes communicative situations at the junction of business and interpersonal communication.

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: it is often inappropriate. At present, even when training new personnel and trainees, a humanistic style is often used - the trainee should be listened to, have an equal dialogue, proceed from his personal qualities and give freedom of expression, if possible. In a negotiation process, a manipulative style may be appropriate, but not always. Success can be considered if it is possible to solve a problem using a humanistic style so that all parties are satisfied with the result.
• Ritual communication should not be neglected. Anyone speaks in this style more often than they think. Even routine conversations with colleagues refer specifically to the ritual style. It allows you to maintain good relationships 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, when communicating 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 keep the communicative situation within the framework of the humanistic style.
• Not all work situations are completely standardized.... Often, in order 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 framework of business that often help to establish contact, win over a person and achieve their goals.

You will learn more about what styles of business communication exist in the following video.