Running Head: ORGANIZATIONAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Employee Handbook for Effective
Communication

Text for Thought

1

Running Head: ORGANIZATIONAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

2

TEXT FOR THOUGHT COMMUNICATION HANDBOOK
Table of Contents
Introduction:

3-4

Section 1:

How to Determine Your Audience

4-6

Section 2:

Basic Guidelines for Communication

6-7

Section 3:

Guidelines for Written Communication

8-11

Section 4:

Tips for Effective Listening and Feedback

11-14

Section 5:

Interpreting Nonverbal Communication

15

Section 6:

Tips for Intercultural Communication

16-17

Conclusion:

17

References:

18

Running Head: ORGANIZATIONAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

TEXT FOR THOUGHT COMMUNICATION HANDBOOK
Introduction
Communicating with others is part of everyday life. In large part, communication is about explicit language such as speaking and writing words, but communication is also implicit messages, such as tone, or eye contact. The definition we will use for this Handbook is “any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person, information about that person’s needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge, or affective states. Communication may be intentional, or unintentional, may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or non-linguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes.” Rai & Rai (2008).
Learning to communicate effectively both implicitly and explicitly is a valuable skill for any professional. Text for Thought expects our employees to communicate effectively and professionally. This Handbook will set forth the basic components of and considerations for effective, professional communication. It then explains methods for various types of communication. Employees come to Text for Thought with a variety of skill sets, culturally diverse backgrounds, and education. In addition, different managers have different expectations and guidelines depending on the needs of their specific departments. The purpose of this Handbook is not to outline strict policies and procedures. Rather, the management team hopes to assist employees in honing a variety of communication skills, and to provide a reference source to which employees can refer to in the absence of individual manager guidelines.

3

Running Head: ORGANIZATIONAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

4

TEXT FOR THOUGHT COMMUNICATION HANDBOOK
Effective communication is critical both internally and externally for the continued success for Text for Thought as our organization continues to expand and develops into an industry leader.
This Handbook will serve as your guide to insure successful communication is achieved.
Specifically the Handbook will cover six categories which include:
1. How to Determine Your Audience
2. Basic Guidelines for Formal and Informal Communication
3. Guidelines for Written Communication (internal and external)
4. Tips for Effective Listening and Feedback
5. Interpreting Nonverbal Communication
6. Tips for Effective Intercultural Communication
The objectives of having an effective communication plan are to provide employees of
Text for Thought a general guideline that will provide consistency, develop targeted messages, and provide a format for presentations and to communicate effectively with your audience.
Section 1
How to Determine Your Audience
The level of formality and intimacy are determined by the recipients of your communication, your audience. You will communicate differently to a friend (very personally and informally, using slang or jargon) than you will to the reader of a report, your co-workers, your managers, or to stakeholders outside of the organization. You would not necessarily define technical terms when presenting to a co-worker within your own department, but you might have

Running Head: ORGANIZATIONAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

5

TEXT FOR THOUGHT COMMUNICATION HANDBOOK to define technical terms if you were sharing your ideas and concepts with someone from a
different