3 Corporate Communication Pitfalls in Business

Proper communication is an important facet in business. Moreover, communicating properly requires ample attention. But ironically, many mishaps in the corporate world can be attributed to miscommunication. Here are some of the common pitfalls every employee must look out for.

Information is vital in any business organization. Regrettably, many letters, e-mails or memos include useless information. useless can mean many things. Here are some of them:

Outdated information – If the information is not up to date, the recipient can make the wrong decisions. Moreover, critical processes in the organization is detrimentally affected by the outdated data.

Erroneous information – There are times when the corporate correspondence is not only outdated, it can be totally erroneous. Instances like this will definitely create a chain reaction that will not end favorably.

Incomplete data – Another pitfall worthy of mention is incomplete data. Right decisions and actions can only be made if all pertinent information is available. Anything less than complete can be disastrous.

Tampered data– In many occasions, I’ve encountered corporate correspondences with tampered information. Many reports, evaluations and analysis can contain tainted data. Whether it is for personal gain or otherwise, tampering with vital details is damaging to the business organization.

Action:

• Update information
• Research new data
• Objective presentation of information

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Furthermore, corporate correspondences have a tendency to be incomprehensible. In this case, it’s all about how the e-mail, memo, report, proposal or letter was written. This deals with the writing skills of the author.

Atrocious grammar – English grammar may seem complex for others. In fact, it can be confusing with all its rules. But this does not excuse anyone from using poor grammar when communicating. Many individuals still have difficulty with their subject-verb agreement, contractions using an apostrophe, consistency of verb tenses, using of double negatives and others. There is no other way but to learn these rules and consistently apply them.

Poor language and word usage – In addition, many fail to use proper words to convey the right message. Thus, accurate information is lost in the barrage of inappropriate words. Some business correspondences fail to achieve its purpose simply because the words used are inappropriate.

Poor sentence structure – Also, a huge disservice is done when authors use poor sentence structure and content organization. Instead of clarifying information, such writing blunders can complicate matters. In addition,

Action:

• Follow formats
• Have clear writing guidelines
• Write properly
• Proofread your work

1. Late information is often disastrous for companies. As such, giving data on time ensures a fighting chance for your business. Unfortunately, this does not always go as planned.

Technical glitches – Whether it’s your server taking a break or your computer taking a leave of absence, flow of information must not stop. Technical glitches happen even with the most advanced companies.

Human error – one annoying reason for late transmittal is human error. Forgetting to press the "Send Button” seems to be a common reason. Another human error is not getting the date wrong. One irritating and unprofessional reason for late transmittal is lack of accountability. Unfortunately, this unprofessional behavior is become common in the workplace.

Action:

• Ensure all technical equipment are working properly
• Update system
• Have a calendar of activities to follow
• Keep reminders

Corporate culture and corporate correspondences are directly related. How people behave can be seen in the way they communicate. Business organizations require a constant stream of information passing effortlessly between departments and individuals. Anything that can block this flow can cripple even the biggest company.

These are just 3 pitfalls in corporate communication. The sooner they are resolved, the easier it is for the company to succeed.