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Dictionary Obstructs Successful Business Practice

By Bonnie Budzowski
President, InCredible Messages, LP

Chances are you learned as a child that to communicate means to convey information or to transfer knowledge. A dictionary will confirm this definition. Unfortunately, in this case, your dictionary falls short of a successful business practice.

A dictionary definition of communication leads you to focus on information—designing your message so receivers understand your precise meaning. This is good practice if you mean to relay a factual message. For example, facts are important in conveying the precise steps required to process a medical claim.

Most business communication, however, is not merely about facts; it’s also about connection. Effective business communication can be defined as making a logical and personal connection so the receiver will support your idea, proposal, or recommendation. I heard Jim Cederna, Former CEO of Calgon Carbon Corporation, put it succinctly: “Communication is a contact sport.”

Good communicators certainly get their facts straight. They also spend energy on uncovering the priorities of their receivers. These communicators want to know what matters to their readers and audience members, so they can make a connection between their own proposals and the receivers’ goals. Good communicators make contact through good questions and good listening skills.

By all means, convey information, but reach beyond information—to connect and to persuade. When it comes to communication, stretch beyond your dictionary. In this case, it’s limiting your success.

Permission is granted to reprint this article when the following contact information is included: © 2008 by Bonnie Budzowski, President of InCredible Messages, LP. For more free articles, go to www.IncredibleMessages.com or contact Bonnie at info@IncredibleMessages.com.

Imagine yourself in a situation in which one professional shows you how to incorporate the insights of three perspectives into your business communication:  marketing, persuasion, and visual design. 

Imagine an interactive session with an entertaining and inspiring speaker.  Do you like what you see?  You’ve just envisioned working with Bonnie Budzowski, President of inCredible Messages, LP.

Contact Bonnie to learn more about how she can guide you and your team to create compelling business messages or call 412-361-1490. 

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