Clear ideas are easier to explain. Many communications fail because of inadequate planning. You must consider the likely attitudes of those who will receive the communication.

 

Before you communicate, ask yourself what you really want to accomplish with your message. Identify your most important aim and then adapt your language and delivery to match it. Don’t try to accomplish too much with each communication. The sharper the focus of your message, the greater its chances of success.

 

Meaning and intent are conveyed by more than words alone. Consider:

1. Timing
2. Physical Setting
3. Social Climate
4. Custom and Past Practice

 

Consultation often helps to lend additional insight and objectivity to your message. Moreover, those who have helped you plan your communication will give it their active support.

 

Your tone of voice, expression and apparent receptiveness to the responses of others all have impact on your audience. Similarly, your choice of language strongly influences the reactions of your listeners.

 

Consideration of the listeners’ interests will point out opportunities to convey something of benefit to them. People are most responsive to the presenter whose message take their own interests into account.

 

Our best efforts at communication may be wasted if we do not follow up to see how well we have put our message across.

 

Communication may be aimed at an immediate situation. It will be more interesting to the audience if it also addresses the future.

 

The most persuasive kind of communication is not what you say but what you do. When a person’s actions contradict the words, we tend to discount what (s)he has said.