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When communicating in business, one should not only strive to get one’s point across in a professional manner but also seek to be clearly understood. But, it is not all plain sailing. The art of communicating effectively follows certain dedicated principles which in recent years have been popularised as the ‘7 C’s of communication’.
What are the 7 C’s of Communication?
In basic terms, the 7 C’s of Communication is simply a set of principles to follow when writing and speaking to ensure that communications are effective. Their function is therefore to make sure that those who you are communicating with accurately understand the message you are putting across. Accordingly, these principles are:
- Clear
- Correct
- Complete
- Concrete
- Concise
- Considered
- Courteous
Let us examine these simple principles in detail.
Clear
Being clear in your communications essentially entails making sure that what you are saying or writing is not misunderstood. Here are some tips to ensure that your communications are clear:
- Use simple, plain language and emphasise the key points of your message.
- To prevent confusion, avoid using idioms, vague expressions, or figures of speech.
- Prior to communicating anything, first be clear in your own mind as to the purpose of why you are communicating and what it is you are trying to get across.
Concise
Make sure that each point of your message is conveyed succinctly and concisely. In this respect, less is more counts greatly in your favour. Use as few words as possible. Short sentences are more likely to keep your listeners or readers engaged. Communicating concisely saves time, is non-repetitive and easier for the audience to grasp.
Concrete
For a message to be concrete it should come across with an element of confidence and supported by relevant stats, facts and figures.
Correct
To be correct implies using the most appropriate form of communication as well as the type of language most suited to your specific message. Correctness also means that your message should be accurate in terms of spelling and grammar and free from typographical errors.
Considered
Considered or coherent writing and conversations have a logical flow and consistently make sense. This is where the order of the points to be covered comes into play. Each point should come across in a manner that is easy to understand. Considered communications should also be consistent in style and content when using more than one communication platform.
Complete
It may seem obvious, but, any communication should include sufficient information to ensure that the target audience understands the entire story. Ways to achieve this include:
- Incorporating a ‘call to action’ statement which is the desired response that you seek to achieve from your audience.
- Adding appropriate hyperlinks to written content to provide as much relevant information as possible.
Courteous
Lastly, it goes without saying that being polite and respectful towards your audience is vital to effective communication. Coming across in a professional, friendly and considerate manner will incite a better response from your target audience. Being courteous also involves transparency, honesty and a willingness to engage in open discussion and answer any questions where necessary.
Reference sources: www.professionalacademy.com