Seven C’s
Principles of Effective Communication
• Effective communication takes place only when the
listener clearly understand the message that the
speaker intended to send.
• A speaker’s message must be delivered clearly.
• Seven “Cs” are identified as qualities of good
communication.
Benefits of Effective Communication
• Quicker problem solving
• Better decision making
• Steady work flow
• Strong business relationship
• Better professional image
• According to the 7 C’s, communication needs to be:
• Completeness
• Conciseness
• Consideration
• Concreteness
• Clarity
• Courteous
• Correctness
1. Completeness
• In a complete message, the audience has
everything they need to be informed and if
applicable, take action.
• Does your message include a “call to action”, so
that your audience clearly knows what you want
them to do?
• Have you included all relevant information-contact
names, dates, times, locations, and so on?
• Provide all necessary information.
• Answer all questions asked.
• Give something extra when desirable.
• Focus on Five “W’s” and one “H”.
For Example, when factory supervisor instructs
workers to produce, he must specify the exact size,
shape, quality and cost of the product. Any assumption
behind the message should also be clarified.
2. Conciseness
• It means wordiness-communicating what you want
to convey in least possible words.
• Are there any adjectives or “filler-words” that
you can delete? You can often eliminate words like
“for instance”, “you see”, “definitely”, “kind of”,
“literally”, “basically”, or “I mean”.
• Are there any unnecessary sentences?
Features
• Highlights the main message.
• Provides short and essential message in limited
word.
• Message is non-repetitive in nature.
Single words instead of long phrases.
For example:
Due to the fact because
In due course soon
At this time now
Few in number few
On a weekly basis weekly
In spite of the fact that… although
.
3.Consideration
• Implies ’stepping into the shoes of others’.
• You adapt your language and message content to
your receiver’s needs when you make your message
complete, concise, concrete, clear, and correct.
• Consideration means that you prepare every
message with the audience in mind.
• Focus on “you” attitude for-example: you will be
pleased to know…
• Show reader/receiver benefit Emphasize positive,
pleasant facts.
• For instance:
Negative-unpleasant: it is impossible to open an account
for you today.
Positive pleasant: As soon as your signature card
reaches us, your account will be preceded.
4. Concreteness
• Communicating concretely means being specific, definite, rather
than unclear and general.
• When your message is concrete, then your audience has a clear
picture of what you’re telling them. There are details (but not
too many!) and vivid facts, and there’s a laser-like focus. Your
message is solid.
• Use specific facts and figures.
Some Vague Words
Slightly
small
Soon
A few
Example:
Students GMAT scores are higher. Instead
In 1996, the GMAT scores are averaged 600, by 1997
they had risen to 610.
5. Clarity
• When writing or speaking to someone, be clear about
your goal or message. What is your purpose in
communicating with this person?
• To be clear, try to minimize the number of ideas in
each sentence. Make sure it is easy for your
reader/audience to understand your meaning.
• People shouldn’t have to “read between the lines” and
make assumptions on their own to understand what
you’re trying to say.
Familiar words Pretentious words
After subsequent
Home domicile
Pay remuneration
Invoice statement of payment
Clarity makes comprehension easier.
• Here are some specific ways to help make your
messages clear:
1. Choose short, precise, concrete, familiar,
conversational words.
2. Construct effective sentences and paragraphs.
3. Include examples, illustrations, and other visual
aids, when desirable.
6. Courteous
• Courteous communication is friendly, open, and
honest, there are no hidden insults or passive-
aggressive tones.
• Be Sincerely Tactful, Thoughtful and Appreciative.
• Use Expressions that Show Respect.
• Omit expressions that irritate, or hurt.
• Choose Non-discriminatory Expressions.
Chairman Chair, Chairperson
Manpower Worker, Employee
Newsman Newscaster or reporter or
journalist
7. Correctness
• Your communication is free of errors and mistakes. If
it is written, make sure you proofread it.
• When your communication is correct, it fits your
audience.
• Do the technical terms you use fit your audience’s level
of education or knowledge?
• Have you checked your writing for grammatical errors?
Are all names and titles spelled correctly?
• Use the right level of language.
• Check accuracy of figures, facts and words.
• Maintain acceptable writing mechanics.
Correctness in message helps in building confidence.
