by Jeffrey Ware

Created on: November 24, 2008   Last Updated: August 16, 2011

Learning effective communication is paramount in today's fast moving life styles. Effective communication affects everyone in every walk of life. Communication that is not effective is useless because the information or message lost. An effective communicator must learn to be proficient in all forms of communication. This includes not only transmitting communication but also receiving information communicated by others. The communicator must utilize listening, verbal, nonverbal, and interpersonal conflict communication on a daily basis. The communicator needs to understand the concepts of communication to assure the effectiveness of the communication.

Communication is a cycle of sending and receiving messages. A message is sent by the speaker to the receiver. The receiver listens to the sender. The receiver sends feedback to the sender. The sender is confident that the message was understood. Only after each and every one of these steps can effective communication will incur. With any one missing, ineffective or miscommunication takes place. This is true with any method of communication, verbal, nonverbal, or a combination of both.

Verbal Communication

According to the experts in communication the actual words that a sent to the receiver is only 7% effective. The tone of the voice is 38%effective. The last 55% is non-verbal communication. According to the book "Professional Development" written by Mary Wilkes and C. Bruce Crosswait, there are five "Cs" of communication. The five "Cs' are complete, clear, concise, courteous, and cohesive.

Complete

The message that is sent must have all the pertainate information that the receiver needs to understand what is being communicated. The message must be complete. Omitting necessary information may actually be received as either confusing or have a totally different meaning by the receiver. Incomplete information may compel the receiver to fill in the missing information, right or wrong.

Clear

The message being sent must be clear. The message must be understood by the receiver. The spoken words must be within the receiver's vocabulary. The message must be spoken in a loud and clear voice with a tone of confidence. This may be particular difficult in an environment that is noisy or cluttered with activity of many. Language barriers present a particular problem in today's society as well.

Concise

The message must be concise. The sender must omit any and all unnecessary information. When unnecessary information is included

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>