Communication, A Mutual Responsibility

Effective Communication is Intentional

Communication is ingrained in daily life. It is the means by which we connect one to another, and accomplish day to day activities. Krishna (2018) describes communication as an art and an essential skill. It is a vital part of connection and function. Communications are more complex in today’s world of business. Business is now a global venture. Virtual work teams, offices in different countries, in different time zones all make communication an intricate adventure. The ability to skillfully articulate messages that are clear, concise, carefully constructed and complete is a powerful tool in leadership Communications that hit the target are effective and create a positive connection. This is a key indicator of effective communication and is essential to building trust credibility, and strong relationships. Learning the basics of how to communicate effectively is business crucial because communication is central to and part of the DNA of business. It is important to approach the skill of communication with intention and thoughtfulness

Communication in Stages

ACE (2023) clearly outlines the components of communication in a general, yet effective, manner. These stages are easily identifiable: sender, channel, recipient, feedback. Loosely translated, sender is the one who is sharing information, the channel is the means used in transmitting the information (email, face 2 face etc.,) the recipient is the person on the receiving side of the message and feedback is the responses back and forth. The lifecycle outline also provides invaluable detail, critical to effective communication: encoding, which is how the sender or transmitter composes the communication, and decoding, which is how the recipients interprets it. These components model the lifecycle of communication. It illustrates what a complete communication might look like, from sender to receiver. Another vital component of an effective communication is in its composition and the thought behind it. How a communication is composed can make the difference in how it is received and whether or not it hits its target. Crafting a communication that accurately conveys its purpose, clearly and concisely without ambiguity or confusion is fundamental to achieving communication that is effective, purposeful and successful. In business there are certain guidelines that are useful in fostering and developing strong effective communication that successfully accomplish its purpose.

A Guide to Help

The 7C’s of Communication is a widely recognized framework designed to help construct clear, effective and impactful messages. Each of the 7C’s represents a key component to assist. According to ACE (2023), the framework for effective communication is built around seven core principles. These principles are—clear, concise, concrete, coherent, correct, complete, and courteous. When applied the 7C’s serve as a guide to ensure that communication is not only accurate and on point, but also thoughtfully constructed and clearly conceptualized. They help ensure that every message is complete, accurately conveyed, relevant to the discussion and delivered with purpose, clarity and respect for the audience.

Clarity, Compassion & Integrity

Application of the 7C’s in communication involves more than choosing the right words—it requires listening intently, be fully present in the exchange, and thoughtfully considering both the information shared and the person sharing it. It is also critical to understand the purpose of the conversation to enable your crafted response to be clear, relevant, accurate and complete. Throughout the interaction, it is essential to show respect and appreciation for both the individual and the intent behind the dialog. The most holistic manner to apply the 7C’s in communication is to be an active listener, practice empathy and communicate with honesty.

Being Present and Engaged

Generically speaking, active listening can be defined as an intentional act of being alert, focused and fully present in an interpersonal exchange of information. While basic listening skills are essential for building and maintaining strong relationships and trust, active listening is more engaged. It requires deliberate and intentional action to be an active partner in the dialog. It is being fully engaged in the communication process, being present and interested in the communication and making a conscious effort to be mindful and respectful of the others involved and the intent of the dialog. Take it seriously.

Bletscher and Lee (2021) come the closest to describing the attributes of active listening in a manner that I agree with. They describe active listening as being a combination of processes from cognitive, behavioral & relational. The cognitive (thinking, considering) function of their description is noted as what sets it apart from the basic. You have to think about and consider carefully communications that come in and those you send out.

Building Credibility

Honest conversations can be difficult. The message to convey is not always daisies, sometimes it’s thorns. Having said that, these messages are also sometimes necessary. When applying the 7C’s in communications, honesty becomes a little easier. We all know the saying, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. Be compassionate, thoughtful and respectful in your communications, and your audience will both receive and respect your honesty. Honesty builds trust and credibility. People respect integrity.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that communication is fundamental to the function of life. It is the foundation for connection, the cornerstone of trust and a key component of credibility, reputation and resolution. Without it, we cannot build relationships, collaborate or coordinate the complexities of daily life. Because of the nature of communication and how it has the power to connect people and shape relationships, we must be intentional and aware of how we use this powerful tool

Communicating is not a one-sided event. My philosophy is that “communication is not to ignore or dismiss what you hear and answer how and what you want”. At its core, communication is a very personal, intimate and dynamic exchange between people. Approach communication as a partner, creating opportunities to build trust, credibility and mutual commitment. When people feel truly heard—when they see the intentional effort that you make to understand and relate to and work through their message, they feel respected, valued and included in the process. One of the most powerful ways to ensure communication is an equally shared exchange and collaboration is through the practice of active listening and honest communications. This builds the foundation for connections, trust, and collaboration

References

American College of Education. (2023). COM5003 Effective Business Communications: Module 1 [Part 2, 3 & 4 presentation]. Canvas.

https://ace.instructure.com/courses/2048093/external_tools/118428

Bletscher, C. G., & Lee, S. (2020). The impact of Active Empathetic listening on an Introductory Communication course. College Teaching, 69(3), 161–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2020.1841079

Krishna, D. (2018). Decoding 7C's in Effective Communication. International Journal of Communication. 28(1-2), 37-46.