Effective CommunicationsReading Time: 2 mins
Communications is the bedrock of every relationship. Whether you are a business person, student, employee or employer, your communication skills say a lot about your person and how well you relate with others.
Effective communication is a core skill required in every sector and one’s ability to communicate well, is a plus.
What is communication? In the simplest terms, it’s the transmission of information (either in written, audio or body language) from a sender to a receiver. Effective communication occurs when the receiver understands, processes and acts on the information from the sender. Communication is ineffective when the required action is not taken, this could be as a result of the inability of the receiver to understand the information.
The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place- Bernard Shaw
Effective communications comprise these 7c’s, be sure to apply them in your communications activities:
1. Clarity: Your message should be clear and easily understandable to the recipient. Your message should emphasize on a single point/idea at a time and should not cover several ideas in a single statement. Also, avoid ambiguity.
2. Correctness: Your message should be correct, i.e., correct language should be used, and ensure that there are no grammatical and spelling mistakes. An understanding of your audience will aid with appropriate word choice and grammar to use in passing your information across.
3. Completeness: The message should be complete, i.e., it must include all the relevant information as required by the intended audience. The complete information gives answers to all the questions of the receivers and helps in better decision-making by the recipient.
4.Concreteness: The communication should be concrete, which means the message should be clear such that there is no room for misinterpretation. You can use explanations and specific examples to drive home your message.
5.Conciseness: The message should be precise and to the point. Avoid lengthy sentences and try to convey the subject matter in the least possible words. The short and brief message is more comprehensive and helps in retaining the receiver’s attention. Use brief and straightforward sentences and avoid unnecessary words or images.
6.Consideration: You must take into consideration the receiver’s opinions, knowledge, mindset, background, etc. in order to communicate effectively.
7.Courteousness: Be polite and professional in your communications. Take into consideration the feelings and viewpoints of the receiver such that your message is positive and focused at the audience. Your message should not be biased and must include the terms that show respect for the recipient.
The importance of communicating effectively can neither be overemphasized nor underestimated as communications is the lubricant that makes the machinery of human relations function smoothly.