7 Cs of Communication – The Seven C’s of Effective Communication

Communication is an essential part of one’s life today. People need to interact with each other, and this is can be done by communicating. In the past, information was relayed through writing a letter or using a telegram. This was the most preferred media.

However, technology has advanced this media and made it easy for people to communicate through email, messages and voice calls. Firms are not left out in this. Businesses need to have a clear and concrete communication channel for it to be successful and stand out.

This can be done through traditional or modern methods. Whether using one of them, it has to be in line with the Seven C’s of effective communication. This helps the business to run smoothly hence becoming successful and obtaining a larger market share.

7 Cs of Effective Communication

In any organization, communication is critical for it to function correctly. When a message is transferred internally or externally the firm is certain to increase productivity and efficiency. However, if the channels are not clearly defined, relaying of information may be a big problem, resulting in poor communication.

Poor communication channels may lead to redundancy of task and production of low-quality goods and services. To help with this, here are the 7 C’s of communication that has to be incorporated in the organization.

1. Clarity

A firm must always pass across a clear message, whether formal or informal. An organization is made up of different people, and everyone has an idea of how a project should be done. By establishing a common mission, vision, or project the employees and staff will work toward achieving it.

However, communication about these factors needs to reach all the employees. The directive should start from the top management; authority figure. Later the same message must trickle down to the lower, and middle management. This gives the employees a sense of belonging, and the goal can be easily achieved. Clarity also ensures that one goal is completed before embarking on another.

Features

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• A clear message grantees understanding among the employees and consumers.
• Makes use of concrete and appropriate words.
• It also enhances the meaning of the message.
• Ensures the provision of the clearest picture.

2. Complete

This particular principle requires excellent communication. This means the message sent within the firm or outside needs to have all the required details. Figures or graphs can be included if need be and no information should be left out.

When a section of the message is omitted, it is termed incomplete, and these leave the employees and consumer imagining. Later their imagination turns into doubt, and this affects production and sales. Therefore, information sent to the employees or consumer has to have crucial details if need be. This wins their trust, and the quality of products and sales will increase.

Features

• It gives complete information to the employees or consumers, and nothing is left out of the message.
• Completeness of messages develops the company’s image hence increasing the market share.
• It cuts cost since you won’t have to print out or send additional information that was left out in the previous notice.
• Complete information about a product persuades the consumer into buying the product. This is because they trust. that the product being offered to serve a particle need. This in turn, improves sales.

3. Concise

It’s also part of the seven C’s of business communication; this dictates that the information sent to the relevant parties should use fewer words. However, that doesn’t mean excluding the other seven C’s of communication. The message sent should not have vague words; only containing brief, well-delivered messages. This ensures the information submitted by the firm is an accurate message that is straight to the point and easy to comprehend.

Features

• Incorporating this form of communication about products saves time and money.
• It is not repetitive, which grasps the attention of the consumer when placed on an advert.
• The message is usually short and precise, highlighting the main points (complete message) in fewer words. This makes it easy for an employee to understand regardless of their level of education.

4. Concrete

Firms need to be clear on the information that they give to the public. This is where concreteness comes in as part of the seven C’s of business communication. It implies that the messages conveyed to the consumers or staff has to be factual. Nothing should be assumed and should be backed up with figures.

For example, if the firm is selling a product, and they claim that it helps in satisfying a need. There has to be proof of such claims, but when the consumer learns all this is just claims. The organization will lose a large percentage of its market share to other companies.

What a consumer desires is truth about the product or services be used. If a firm chooses to lie about its products then this will automatically decrease the sales. On the other hand, the consumer can also sue for damages since the information given is false. This affects the firm’s reputation as well.

Features

• It contains specific facts and figures.
• The words used are usually clear and also builds the reputation of the company.

5. Courteous

Consumers want to feel appreciated and respected before and after purchasing product. This gives them a sense of belonging. Therefore, businesses need to consider this approach to communication to improve business communication with them. A courteous message should show sincerity, politeness, and enthusiasm when he or she reads it. No aggressive tone should be detected if effective communication is the goal.

This paints a complete picture that you have taken into consideration his\ her feelings before selling to them. A good business also ensures that the information sent to the employees’ reflects the same. This guarantees that they will remain loyal to the company. Hence, this increases product quality and profit margin.

Features

• Such information sent to the consumers or employees is not biased.
• The words used to craft the message are polite and positive.
• The message sent by the firm from the top management should incorporate the views of the employees to prevent poor communication.

6. Correct

The correctness of information ensures there is an understanding between the management and the employees, investors or consumers. Hence no grammatical error is expected. For example, if the firm is looking for an investor to finance their projects.

They should ensure the ideas and thoughts being pitched to the investors are correct and arrange in the right manner. This gives the investors’ confidence to have their money in the project. But when the idea and analysis for client is pitch incorrectly, that means it isn’t clear and cannot be understood. Therefore the investor is likely to walk away.

Features

• It as contains figures, graphs, and specific facts.
• The impact of the message is significant because there is an understanding between the management, staff and the investors.
• There is the use of correct and appropriate language in the message, for example, if the audience understands a particular language more such as English language, information should be disseminated in such language.

7. Consideration

Consideration is something a firm should look into when promoting concrete business communication with its employees. The message has to be logical and in line with the topic. For, example, when it comes to the mission, values and goals of the firm. It has to be sensible and achievable.

If a construction firm is undertaking a project that takes a span of four years. The employees are supposed to be aware of this. Not that the company reduces the time frame of the project and increases the working hours without proper communication. This affects the employees, and the output will be low.

Features

• The message should concentrate more on the employees or consumers and not the company
• Present the employees with logical projects that can be achieved and not straining them.