"I know that
you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize
that what you heard is not what I meant." – Robert McCloskey
Know your audience and match
your
message to their audience.
Understand
perceptions and
mental maps. If you wish
your message to hit the target, make adjustment to the wind.
Know exactly what you want to achieve. Think and organize before you
start.
Be
willing to share what you know and hear what you don't know.
Put yourself in your audience's shoes, try to
understand your listener's level of understanding,
Communication
is a two-way street. Be a
good listener.
Listen carefully to all responses. Respect your audience and suspend
judgments.
Ask the right types of
questions at the right time
– asking the right question is often more important than knowing
what to say.
Invite
feedback. Ask your audience to explain
what they think you said. Discuss differences until you hear a
satisfactory version of the message you wanted to convey.
Stay focused on what you want to achieve, but keep your mind open to
new opportunities and ideas that may come up during communication.
