How Does Culture Affect Business Communication?

Defined as the values and actions that create a unique social presence for a business, organizational culture plays an important role in business communication. All businesses have a culture; it's the shared values that distinguish businesses from their competitors. Upon reading this, you may assume that a business's culture is the same as its brand. While culture can be reflected in a business's brand, it's a broader concept that affects many aspects of a business's operations, including its communication abilities.

How Does Culture Affect Business Communication?

Understanding Business Communication: What You Should Know

Business communication specifically refers to the act of giving and/or receiving information within or outside a business for the benefit of the business. This exchange of information can occur between workers, managers, customers, potential customers, vendors and anyone else with whom a business communicates. When a customer enters a coffee shop, for example, the barista will likely greet and ask them what they'd like to order. This is a form of business communication because it involves the exchange of information for the benefit of the business.

Another example of business communication is when a manager sends an email to his or her workers notifying them of an upcoming event. Unlike the first example, this communication is performed within the business. However, it's still performed for the benefit of the business, so it's considered a business communication.

Culture Affects the Formality of Business Communication

Business communication can be formal or informal -- something that a business's culture can influence. Some businesses value informal business communication, such as face-to-face meetings, more than formal communication, like pre-arranged business meetings. In the hospitality industry, informal business communication is often emphasized because of its ability to connect with customers and guests on a more personal level.

Culture Affects the Mediums Used for Business Communication

In addition to formality, culture can also affect the mediums used for business communication. Administrative businesses, for example, may value email as a communication medium more than a face-to-face conversation. The opposite is true for restaurants, however, which typically prefer face-to-face conversations.

Culture Affects Nearly All Aspects of Business Communication

It's important to note that culture affects nearly all aspects of business communication. Some of the most noticeable influences involve the formality and mediums used in business communications, but a business's organizational culture can shape and mold nearly every aspect of its communication.

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