Communicating Effectively in the Business Environment
             Communications in the workplace have become as relaxed as dress codes. Everyone has experienced miscommunications in his or her personal life, but when communications fail in the business world, opportunities to rectify the situations are rarely there. In many incidences, the damage has already been done and money or jobs have been lost. The reputation of the company has suffered immeasurable harm in the business community. Communicating effectively in the business environment is crucial as the success of an organization is directly connected to the abilities of its employees.
             The problem of miscommunications in the business world is far more serious than one might think. According to Patricia Eyres, author of "Every Word Counts,"
             Evidence from business records generated over years and even decades affects an increasing number of civil lawsuits. In fact, damage awards have soared in recent years, some due to explosive content of business communications, gaps in documentation, inflammatory e-mail, or charges of evidence tampering. (Eyres, 2003, p. 80)
             Ms. Eyres goes on to say, "Any written information, whether formally or informally generated, can be considered documentary evidence if it is pertinent to a legal action, a
             regulatory proceeding, or a misconduct investigation". (Eyres, 2003, p. 80) Extreme care must be taken when choosing your words. Tone must be considered and attitudes or prejudices must be put aside when composing business communications. Michael Whelan, President of The Whelan Group, states, "Writers should always plan before they write. It's interesting, but writing is the only thing businesspeople never plan". (Whelan, 2002, p. 27) Managers and employees may not be aware of the repercussions related to miscommunications within business communications. Knowing this, a company cannot afford to take the...