The Four Cs of Better Communication

by Brandon Jubar

Communication is important regardless of the situation and, at times, ensuring that our message gets across effectively can be critical. So whether at home, at work, in ministry, or almost any other circumstance, there are four things that you can do to get your point across more clearly.

The First "C": Context

People need to understand the context of your communication. If you take the time to explain the significance of what you're sharing, you won't force people to guess how or why it's important to them. By providing information upfront, you'll avoid the confusion that can result when you simply assume that your listeners know the context of your message.

The Second "C": Consistency

People need to hear something several times before it truly sinks in, so you can't just rely on one phone call, meeting or memo to get your point across. You need to share your idea multiple times becomes repetition will help your listeners remember your message.

The Third "C": Channels

Just as people need to receive your message multiple times, they also need to receive it in different ways -- from multiple channels. Talking face-to-face is good, but depending upon the circumstances, you should also use e-mail, voicemail, and audio or video recordings to repeat your message in different ways.

The Fourth "C": Credibility

The best message in the world won't do any good if you have lost credibility with your listeners. Obviously no one's perfect, but one way to build credibility is to be careful not to make too many mistakes when sharing any message, no matter how trivial it may seem. If people learn that they can trust you in small matters, they will be more likely to trust you when the topic is more serious. On the other hand, communication errors -- no matter how insignificant -- can give people excuses for questioning everything you say.

Focus on these four Cs -- context, consistency, channels and credibility -- and you'll be well on your way to more effective communication.

Life Applications:

What situations do you find most difficult when it comes to communicating?
What situations do you find easies when it comes to communicating?
How well do you communicate during difficult family situations?

Copyright 2007 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.