Communication is one of the most important practices in our personal and professional lives. It’s not just about the idea you’re trying to communicate, but also learning how to communicate clearly. Clear and consistent communication is key, whether we’re talking about written communication or verbal communication.
How do you make sure you to communicate clearly, whether in writing or in conversations?
Know your goals
As with anything related to communication, it’s important to know your goals. Identifying those goals up front can help ensure you communicate clearly. Be sure to also identify the action you want your audience to take in response to your message as part of your goals. The more specific you are about your goals, the clearer your message can be.
Identify the important details
If you’re communicating something in writing about your business, jot down the important details before you start trying to write copy or format anything. Get the required information (what) on paper first before you get bogged down with the format or design (how).
This same guideline applies to verbal communication, whether an internal meeting or a presentation. It’s important to capture the important details first before you start creating slides for your presentation.
Anticipate any questions
Put yourself in your audience’s shoes and think about what questions they might have. You’ve likely thought about your topic for a while and know the information well. Try to create some distance and think like your audience to anticipate any questions. Or you can ask someone else to review your notes or a first draft and ask any questions they have after reading it.
Be open to feedback
Communicating clearly and consistently requires being open to feedback always. Gathering and analyzing feedback is one of the best ways to improve your business practices. What can you learn from the experience that will help you communicate clearly in the future? That could mean capturing questions that come up related to a business event or actively listening to feedback from your team in response to verbal communication.
If you’re trying to communicate clearly for your business but need help with your message, reach out to the StoryPath team today. We can help ensure clear, consistent communication for your organization across all marketing channels.