Effective communication which is applicable to both written as well as oral
communication follows following seven steps:
- Completeness
- The communication must be
complete. It should convey all facts required by the audience. The sender
of the message must take into consideration the receiver’s mind set and
convey the message accordingly. A complete communication has following
features:
- Complete
communication develops and enhances reputation of an organization.
- Moreover,
they are cost saving as no crucial information is missing and no
additional cost is incurred in conveying extra message if the
communication is complete.
- A
complete communication always gives additional information wherever
required. It leaves no questions in the mind of receiver.
- Complete
communication helps in better decision-making by the
audience/readers/receivers of message as they get all desired and crucial
information.
- It
persuades the audience.
- Conciseness
- Conciseness means
wordiness, i.e, communicating what you want to convey in least possible
words without forgoing the other C’s of communication. Conciseness is a
necessity for effective communication. Concise communication has following
features:
- It
is both time-saving as well as cost-saving.
- It
underlines and highlights the main message as it avoids using excessive
and needless words.
- Concise
communication provides short and essential message in limited words to
the audience.
- Concise
message is more appealing and comprehensible to the audience.
- Concise
message is non-repetitive in nature.
- Consideration
- Consideration implies
“stepping into the shoes of others”. Effective communication must take the
audience into consideration, i.e, the audience’s view points, background,
mind-set, education level, etc. Make an attempt to envisage your audience,
their requirements, emotions as well as problems. Ensure that the
self-respect of the audience is maintained and their emotions are not at
harm. Modify your words in message to suit the audience’s needs while
making your message complete. Features of considerate communication are as
follows:
- Emphasize
on “you” approach.
- Empathize
with the audience and exhibit interest in the audience. This will
stimulate a positive reaction from the audience.
- Show
optimism towards your audience. Emphasize on “what is possible” rather
than “what is impossible”. Lay stress on positive words such as jovial,
committed, thanks, warm, healthy, help, etc.
- Clarity
- Clarity implies
emphasizing on a specific message or goal at a time, rather than trying to
achieve too much at once. Clarity in communication has following features:
- It
makes understanding easier.
- Complete
clarity of thoughts and ideas enhances the meaning of message.
- Clear
message makes use of exact, appropriate and concrete words.
- Concreteness
- Concrete communication
implies being particular and clear rather than fuzzy and general.
Concreteness strengthens the confidence. Concrete message has following
features:
- It
is supported with specific facts and figures.
- It
makes use of words that are clear and that build the reputation.
- Concrete
messages are not misinterpreted.
- Courtesy
- Courtesy in message
implies the message should show the sender’s expression as well as should
respect the receiver. The sender of the message should be sincerely
polite, judicious, reflective and enthusiastic. Courteous message has
following features:
- Courtesy
implies taking into consideration both viewpoints as well as feelings of
the receiver of the message.
- Courteous
message is positive and focused at the audience.
- It
makes use of terms showing respect for the receiver of message.
- It
is not at all biased.
- Correctness
- Correctness in
communication implies that there are no grammatical errors in
communication. Correct communication has following features:
- The
message is exact, correct and well-timed.
- If
the communication is correct, it boosts up the confidence level.
- Correct
message has greater impact on the audience/readers.
- It
checks for the precision and accurateness of facts and figures used in
the message.
- It
makes use of appropriate and correct language in the message.
Awareness of these 7 C’s of communication makes you an
effective communicator.
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