Communication is an essential part of our everyday life, and it is necessary that we do it right. So here are seven Cs to help you improve your communication abilities and communicate more effectively. That is why the 7 Cs of effective communication exist to help us.
The 7 C’s of Effective Communication are
- Completeness,
- Conciseness,
- Consideration,
- Clarity,
- Concreteness,
- Courtesy,
- Correctness.
Completeness means conveying all necessary information, while conciseness is using the fewest words possible. Consideration involves taking the audience’s viewpoints and emotions into account.
Clarity emphasizes a specific message, while concreteness uses specific facts and figures. Courtesy is being polite and respectful, and correctness involves using accurate language and checking for errors. Effective communication requires incorporating all of these elements.
Completeness
Completeness refers to providing all the necessary information/data in your message. It will help your message is not unclear. Incomplete messages can lead to confusion or even misunderstanding as well. A complete message provides all the details necessary for the listener to understand the message fully.
If you are emailing your team about a project, for example, you should provide all important information. Such as the goals, deadlines, requirements and dates.
Conciseness
Conciseness refers to communicating your message in a clear and brief manner. It means using fewer words to convey your message effectively.
Remember one thing “the more details you include, the more challenging it can be for listeners to follow and recall,” especially if the subject is new to them.
Consideration
It refers to showing sympathy towards the listener. It means feeling the listener’s perspective and then predicting their needs. You always avoid being self focusing only on your needs.
Empathy towards the audience is encouraged to stimulate a positive reaction, indicating an interest in the audience.
The website advocates for showing optimism towards the audience by emphasizing what is possible rather than what is impossible.
Positive words are recommended to create a jovial, committed, warm, and healthy atmosphere, including words like “thanks” and “help.”
For example, if you ask a coworker for help, you should recognize that they are busy and that their time is valuable. “I realize you’re busy, but can you please assist me with for this task?”
Clarity
Clarity means that your message clearly and effectively expressed for others. It means avoiding a lack of clarity or confusion. A concise message is simple to grasp. “I might be able to attend the meeting,” say rather than, “I will attend the meeting.”
Concreteness
Concreteness refers to providing specific and tangible details in your message. It means avoiding abstract or unclear statements. These are more convincing and credible. For example, instead of saying “We had a great quarter,” you can say “Our revenue increased by 15% this quarter.”
Courtesy
Courtesy refers to being polite and respectful towards the listener. It means avoiding rude or offensive language. Being courteous promotes positive connections and helps to avoid unnecessary conflict. When providing feedback to a team member, for example, you should be respectful and avoid using harsh or judgemental words.
Correctness
Ensuring that your message is exact and error-free is referred to as correctness. It involves avoiding grammatical or spelling mistakes. Improper communications might cause misunderstanding and possibly jeopardize your credibility. For example, if you are sending an email to your employer, you should proofread it to ensure that there are no mistakes.