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The Importance of Written Communication #

How one chooses to use language in written form can and often will strongly affect the

intended message that is perceived by the targeted audience. This is true of designers when

someone visits a website of a new artist and isn’t familiar with that person’s sensibilities.

Hobbies, likes, dislikes and the sort may be misunderstood if the communication is poorly

thought out.

The three imperative components of effective written communication are the message, the

audience, and the purpose. In the message, one wants to inform the audience of a specified topic

and for a specific reason. If any of these elements are lacking, the entire concept of effective

communication is lost.

There are some considerations one has to make in order to make sure that his or her writing

is communicating the proper idea. If the message isn’t entirely clear, or the meaning of the

message is subject to interpretation, the more one has to monitor and consider the methods used

to form the message.

A failure to communicate can be a failure to connect with the audience. If one cannot

proffer a connection to the audience, there can be no reasonable expectation for the audience to

follow or even consider any persuasion by the message even if the message is full of merit.

Consider how the audience connects to what is being said and how the message is conveying this

information.

Communication in Business

Any type of communication in a business setting makes an impression on co-workers,

clients, and managers. Everything written in a business setting is a record, so writers should be

aware of tone, clarity, and grammar, even in communications that have a tendency to feel

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informal, such as e-mails and online chat sessions. According to Thompson (2007),

“Communication is one of the basic functions of management in any organization, and its

importance can hardly be overemphasized. It is a process of transmitting information, ideas,

thoughts, opinions and plans between various parts of an organization” (¶ 1). Thompson

emphasizes clarity here, showing that through the transfer of information, ideas are

brainstormed, plans are challenged, and directions are given.

Effective communication in managerial positions is also important. In the workplace,

productivity and efficiency are paramount to make sure that tasks are accomplished (Baird,

2007). Below, Baird highlights the significance of communication in business relationships

(2007):

Communication is an important factor in any relationship, be it a couple or a large

company such as a casino. Business surveys of American companies cite written

communications as their employee's biggest skill problem. In fact 80% of the businesses

surveyed cited written skills as their biggest problem. Those same surveys also stated that

90% of top executives say that effective business writing is the skill most needed for

professional recognition. (p. 48)

It is important to understand the methods and applications of effective communication when an

idea is being proposed. The message must be clear, the audience must be well defined, and the

purpose should not be vague or abstract. These elements are also effective in the workplace, as

efficiency and easily understood communication makes everything smoother for all involved.

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References

Baird, B. (2007). The importance of written communication skills. Indian Gaming, p. 48.

Retrieved April 13, 2008, from http://www.indiangaming.com/istore/jun07_baird.pdf

Thompson, S. (2007). Importance of communication in an organization. Retrieved April 13,

2008, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Importance-of-Communication-in-an-

rganization&id=423299

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