24): Page 7 856 Administration & Society 41(7) Culture and communication are inseparable because culture not only dictates who talks with whom, about what, and how the communica- tion proceeds, it also helps to determine how people encode messages, the meanings they have for messages, and the conditions and circum- …

Customs, laws, dress, architectural style, social standards, religious beliefs, and traditions are all examples of cultural elements.

Cultural differences causes behavior and personality differences like body language, thinking, communication, manners, norms, etc. which leads to miscommunication. For example, in some cultures eye contact is important whereas in some it is rude and disrespectful. Beliefs are also another cause for cultural barrier.

Culture provides its members with an implicit knowledge about how to behave in different situations and how to interpret others’ behavior in such situations. In fact, since time immemorial, communication has been an integral part of culture and, as culture advances, the communication patterns of individuals change.

Creates better relationships Good communication also improves relationships, both with employees and in your personal life with friends and family members. Listening carefully and offering quality feedback helps people to feel heard and understood. This, in turn, nurtures mutual respect.

Communication in the Past: In the past, people used smoke signals as a form of communication; however, smoke signals could only send a few simple messages. As America changed and the population grow people needed to send longer messages as well as sending them further in distance.

➨It is cheaper way of communication and hence saves money. Following are the disadvantages of Verbal Communication: ➨Emotions are visible and hence leads to trouble in certain cases. ➨It has no legal validity and hence will lead to problems in certain situations.

Excellent verbal communication is a key to maintaining successful business relationships. Effective communication causes productivity to increase, errors to decrease and operations to run smoother. Receiving the right and updated information from their superiors boost their confidence and productivity.