Communication, whether we think so or not, is the fundamental base of business. That’s right! Much as we may wonder why an MBA student, a manager of tomorrow, or one working today, might need a strong base in communication, it is nevertheless an essential part of doing business as well as managing people. This is a vital fundamental element that connects and applies to every aspect of the business from customers, vendors, and partners, to employees – both on site and remote – to any number of other players and stakeholders that a business needs to stay in touch with (and communicate with) - 24/7.
More and more, in this age of information and digital access, communication has expanded from just talking at or to clients or customers base. A successful business of today, apart from the traditional function of keeping clients and customers informed and updated, must also be able to support remote teams working offsite or telecommuting from home, foster efficient collaboration amongst them and on site teams and workers, and do so much more… All within the realm of communication. That is, of course, if the business is interested in competing successfully, increasing its scale of operations, expand or set up branches, find and monetise new client segments, and reach out to a global market. None of these things will be feasible, in the slightest, without an organisation and managers well versed in efficient and effective business and corporate communication.
When IP telephony was first developed, less than a decade ago, it seemed like a quantum leap in business communication strategies and possibilities. In just a few years since then, we have moved light-years forward to technologies that enable people located at remote corners of the globe to “tele-meet” as if they were all in the same room! software as a service (SaaS), Unified Communications, and more, are the future. Whereas communication in the past was simply picking up a phone or making physical presentations, today even that has changed dramatically with ever newer technologies and ideas. As more organisations become heavily reliant on the internet to reach out, these trends are set for another sea change as well.
To stay relevant, then, an organisation, and the managers responsible for its efficient functioning and future success, must keep abreast of current industry trends, with an eye on what the future is likely to bring. As technology evolves, at blink-of-the-eye speeds, businesses and management professionals must be prepared to keep up and constantly update themselves to be able to maintain their competitive edge.
So, we might ask, what are the communication trends – specifically related to businesses or the corporate world – that are likely to become relevant and essential not just for brands but also for those seeking employment to remain relevant in this evolving global workspace.