3 CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE MESSAGE            SLIDES HERE

Our messages can get lost (mis-communication) in the mind of our receiver (audience) because of barriers.  However, here are three characteristics that can help to make your message more effective.

1) Your message must be appropriate – according to the audience, subject, needs of the receiver and environment.

2) Your message must be useful – ask yourself  “Is my information needed by my audience?  How much do they   know?  How much might they want to know?”

3) Your message must be persuasive – Use the psychology and tactics of Appeals  to make your message more effective to the audience.  First, know your objective for communicating; then, analyze the audience according to what we know about them as individuals or as a group; and then choose the proper organization of your information according to the type of audience they are (or the majority of the audience will be) either Hostile, Friendly, or Indifferent.

4 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE MESSAGE

As we learned from the Model of Communication and the Monolith of Misunderstanding,  there are several elements/factors working against clear communication.  However, here are 4 steps that can help you to be more effective.

1) Gather the Information (only that which you need to reach your comm. objective).

2) Organize the Information (logically by subject, importance, chronology or space, for example, and according to the audience analysis you have done)

3) Choose the proper channel (the form of communication such as written which could be memo, letter, report, etc. – or speaking, which could be meeting, telephone call, presentation, etc.)

4)  Be clear (by writing and speaking only that which is Appropriate, Useful and Persuasive – see above).