Business Communication

118  /  Business Communication
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5.
Continue the discussion on the major issues and sub-issues until the participants’ interest
has peaked.
6.
Invite questions from participants and in case of lack of response stimulate the discussion
by directing questions at the participants by name (when possible).
7.
Keeps the discussion balanced not allowing one view to dominate and keep the discussion
on track.
8.
Ensure that each participant gets due share of their time to exchange ideas on issues of
concern to them.
9.
Ensure that the volunteer participant appointed by you, takes notes of the major points
discussed in the workshop. This will help them to report on the workshop later.
10.
Thank participants at the end of the session for their attention and participation.
10.8
CONFERENCE
A conference is closed group discussion. A conference is usually a large gathering of persons who
meet to confer on a particular theme or to exchange experience or information. A conference may
held to exchange views on some problem being faced by the organization or some other issue related
to it, and it may even suggest a solution, but the suggestions from a conference are not binding. They
are more in the nature of recommendations. The participants in the conference have to register for
attending the conference.
Within the organization, the sales manager may hold a weekly conference of the salesmen to
review sales during the week and to plan the next week’s strategy on the basis of the views expressed
by them. Conference may sometimes be held to give training to new employees. These employees may
be exposed to a conference where necessary information about the organization is imparted to them
and through discussion in an informal atmosphere they are made to learn all about the organization,
its objectives, policies, etc. This kind of conference may be described as a conference for training.
Occasionally a large industrial concern may take initiative and invite delegates from other similar
concerns to a conference to discuss problem of mutual interest. The host organization selects the venue
of the conference, makes arrangements for the stay of the delegates, chalks out detailed programme,
invite eminent people to chair various sessions, selects the speakers, and at the end of the conference
sends out reports to leading newspapers highlighting some of the important aspects of the conference.
Such conference usually last from two to three days.
10.9
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
Business etiquette is made up of significantly more important things than knowing which fork to use
at lunch with a client. Unfortunately, in the perception of others, the devil is in the details. People may
feel that if you can’t be trusted not to embarrass yourself in business and social situations, you may
lack the self-control necessary to be good at what you do. Etiquette is about presenting yourself with
the kind of polish that shows you can be taken seriously. Etiquette is also about being comfortable
around people (and making them comfortable around you).
People are a key factor in your own and your business’ success. Many potentially worthwhile and
profitable alliances have been lost because of an unintentional breach of manners. Etiquette is a very
important factor in determining the success or failure of a business or a person. Etiquette is the way a
person presents himself to others, being comfortable and making other people around comfortable.
Good business etiquettes are the recipe of success. It is very important to practice good manners and

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