Effective Communication Principles

• Communication is a two-way process; understanding and applying key principles is essential for effectiveness in both oral and written forms

General Principles of Effective Communication

• Know your purpose
• Know your audience
• Know your topic
• Adjust to the context
• Apply feedback

Principles of Effective Oral Communication

• Clarity is paramount
• Ensure the message is well-supported
• Be concise to maintain audience attention
• Deliver naturally, using appropriate gestures
• Offer timely and specific feedback, recognizing its value

7 C's of Effective Communication

• Clarity is achieved through clear language, awareness of the audience, and consideration of nonverbal cues
• Avoid jargon by using simple, easy-to-understand language
• Use active voice to emphasize the subject
• Use concrete nouns
• Understand their thoughts and feelings
• Adjust tone, gestures, and body language
• Tailor your message
• Focus on nonverbal cues, including body language and tone
• Encourage feedback to ensure understanding

Concise Communication

• Being concise means expressing the message clearly with minimal words, a key skill
• Planning is crucial
• Tailor the message to your audience's understanding
• Use simple language, avoiding jargon
• Use active voice with powerful nouns and verbs
• Write short, direct sentences
• Use outlines to stay on topic
• Prioritize the most important information first
• Use bullet points and headings
• Record yourself speaking
• Conciseness saves time, prevents information overload, and engages the audience

Concrete Communication

• Concreteness means being specific, detailed, and factual, using tangible data
• Key aspects include facts, figures, dates, and measurable details
• Use tangible language to describe things one can see, touch, or hear
• Provide real-life examples
• Make direct statements to avoid ambiguity
• Concreteness reduces misunderstandings, builds trust, and enhances effectiveness

Correct Communication

• Correctness in communication means being accurate, error-free, and using suitable language for the intended audience
• Utilize appropriate language for the message and audience
• Ensure grammatical accuracy and correct spelling
• Verify factual accuracy
• Proofread or use checking tools
• Confirm correctness of names and titles
• Verify proper use of technical terms
• Review the communication before sending
• Recognize the audience's needs and desires

Coherent Communication

• Coherence is clear and logical communication with a smooth flow of ideas
• Logical order in organizing ideas
• Transition words connect ideas
• Maintain consistent tone and flow
• Ensure relevance of points to the main topic
• Compartmentalize multiple points within a single message
• Tips include sticking to the topic, using transition words, staying organized
• Ensure message consistency and include a call to action, with hyperlinks

Complete Communication

• Completeness means conveying a message entirely, ensuring full listener understanding
• Provide precise details in communication
• Include clear instructions when requesting
• Consider the audience's possible interpretation
• Check the message for clarity and accuracy
• Ask for feedback
• Incomplete messages are open to misinterpretation
• Complete messages give audiences complete understanding

Courteous Communication

• Courteous communication involves respect, politeness, openness, and considering the audience's perspective
• Show respect and honesty
• Consider the audience's needs
• Be open, transparent and honest
• Be friendly and conversational
• Be appreciative of time and attention
• Be aware of biases, acknowledge differing opinions
• Be professional
• Ensure clarity, conciseness, and specificity
• Use humor, levity, and relatable stories

Ethics of Communication

• Establish a value system to develop integrity, affecting operations and behavior
• Supply complete and contextualized information, whether requested or not
• Disclose vital information adequately for transparency