Better Business Communication Day

Better Business Communication Day is annually celebrated on the fourth Monday in January. It is an opportunity to honor those who have taken the time and effort to clearly, succinctly, and accurately deliver messages that make sense and fulfill their intended purpose.

History of Better Business Communication Day

Given its popularity as humor as it actually is in the comic book Dilbert or the television show The Office, it's all too clear that the phrase "better communication" is used in business contexts often is an oxymoron. Joining Better Business Communication Day is to rescue companies with communication impairments. Employees with good access to information feel more connected, empowered, and make better decisions. Use this holiday as a starting point to build a company culture that values good communication methods.

Some ways to improve your business communication skills

Expand business vocabulary

Some of the best business communicators have their own industry-specific glossaries. These keywords and phrases allow them to explain their vision no matter how complex or technical it is.

Taking an online business language training course is a simple yet effective way to expand your vocabulary. Read books, magazines, or industry-specific dictionaries, too. For the free option, dig through the websites in your industry until the business terminology is well understood in your vocabulary.

Master digital communication

Emojis and slang have made digital communication more personal and less formal. However, you should not take digital communication less seriously than oral or written communication.

Type emails and chat messages as if they were read by anyone in your business. Work on decisions and diplomacy no matter who you're talking to. Besides, avoid using slang or colloquial words to avoid many recipients not understanding or appreciating. Using simple terms will help avoid unnecessary misunderstanding or provocation, which will show that you are a professional.

Practice makes perfect

Even the greatest orators don't become master communicators overnight. It all takes patience and practice to improve your business communication skills. Identify the skills you are lacking and then gradually work and hone to achieve them.

If you want to strengthen your digital communication skills, practice typing business letters yourself. Not confident in your verbal communication? Attend a workshop at your local business association to hear how professionals communicate. Or, join a professional organization like Toastmasters to sharpen your public speaking skills. Ultimately, you'll gain the confidence and know-how to communicate with individuals at all levels of the business.

How to celebrate Better Business Communication Day

This day is dedicated to improving communication on an individual and company-wide level, which can be done in a number of ways. One way is to expand your industry-related vocabulary, by reading industry literature, using business language training software, and simply by reading through industry-related websites. An understanding of digital communication is crucial to overall business communication. When communicating digitally, be formal, avoid slang, and write professionally in plain language, as if anyone in the company would read what was written.

Another component of better communication that can be focused on is listening. As an individual employee or company boss, seek advice on a personal level. As a boss, start or improve based on the feedback loop in the business. Another important aspect of communication is making sure meetings are focused. Know the goals of meetings before they begin, and be precise, concise, and purposeful when participating. Continuing to work on other communication skills that need honing is a must. In addition to these examples, there are many other ways to improve business communication skills.