What is business communications?

Business communications covers a broad expanse of topics. Its purpose is to help individuals understand and learn how to communicate verbally and non-verbally in a business environment. For the majority of business people, the communication skills that can help them to be successful are:

• Listening

• Public speaking

• Presentations

• Meeting facilitation

• Writing

• Interpersonal skills

• Conflict management

• Conflict resolution

Why business communications?

The ability to communicate well in the business environment is important because people make up organizations. It is estimated that managers spend 75 to 80 per cent of their time involved with some form of written or oral communications. Recruiters consistently say good communications is one of the primary skills needed to be selected for a management position. There are three major reasons why good communication is important to people and businesses:

• Poor communication can be a hindrance to relationships and careers

• Today's workplace is rapidly becoming more complex and diverse

• Communications mistakes can be expensive to a business

• The evolving global business model demands exceptional communication skills

What are the benefits of effective communication?

There are many benefits that can be derived from having good business communication skills. These benefits include:

• Improved relationships

• Reduced conflict

• Increased acceptance of your ideas

• Reduced misunderstandings

• Improved creativity/problem solving

• Increased efficiency

What is mediation?

Mediation is an informal alternative dispute resolution process, facilitated by a trained third party called a mediator. The intent of the mediation is to bring two parties together to clear up misunderstandings, find out concerns, and reach a resolution. The process is voluntary and is usually much less expensive than actual legal proceedings.

Why mediation?

Mediation is a rapidly growing approach as an alternative to the courtroom to resolve civil disputes such as property, family, and workplace issues. The US court system is severely backlogged at all levels. As a result, many judges refer cases to mediators in an effort to resolve the disputes outside the court system.

There are several advantages to mediation:

• Mediation is empowering. Unlike arbitration where a third party renders a decision participants must accept, mediation allows participants to determine their own resolution to the issues.

• Mediation is normally much less expensive than the cost of a trial.

• Mediation can usually resolve issues in a much faster timeframe than a trial.

• Mediation is normally voluntary.

• Mediation is confidential.

• Mediation is timely. Usually, sessions can be held quickly at a time convenient for the participants.

• Mediation is effective. Over 85% of mediations are concluded successfully.

How does mediation work?

A mediation session begins with the mediator meeting with the parties in one room. The mediator will introduce himself or herself, explain how the process works, and answer questions the parties may have. Each side will then tell their story regarding the conflict and the issues involved, and ideas for resolution will be presented and discussed. During the session the mediator may choose to meet with each party individually to discuss the conflict in confidence before rejoining the full group of parties to work toward finding an acceptable resolution. If a settlement is reached, a memorandum of the agreement is written and signed by all parties. Once the agreement is approved and signed, it becomes binding on all parties.