Effective Communication

There are five key components to effective communication:

• Clear Intention: Know what you want to achieve before you begin.

• Clear Message: Think through what you want to say so that you are sure that you emphasize the key message rather than non-essential details.

• Active Listening: Don't just wait for the other person to stop talking so you can say what you want; absorb and incorporate what others have to say.

• Shared Understanding: Check with others to see if they heard what you intended and visa versa.

• Follow-up: Respond to important communications in writing or with actions.

If you actively apply these key components to your interactions with customers and employees you will save time and have better results. In most cases this requires just a couple extra minutes planning or preparation.

If you are in charge of planning meetings, people appreciate it when they know that they are giving up time for a specific purpose and that they are there to provide input that will be considered. By communicating what you hope to achieve at the beginning of the meeting, listening carefully when others speak, summarizing at the end of the meeting what was covered, and following-up key decisions in writing (taking care to include responsible people and deadlines) you will ensure more effective communication.