Top 10 - Effective Communication

Top 10 Rules for Effective Communication

· Approach every writing project with your readers in mind: why should they care?

· Give your audience a sense of involvement in the process and in what is going on. They will care more about projects in which they have a stake.

· Make your topic a part of your audience's world: adopt your material to their communication style.

· Communicate with people, not at them. Explain your point of view--even Moses had questions about the Ten Commandments.

· Like politics, all communication is local. Convey the message in terms that the audience understands.

· Keep your message similar in ALL your communications. Repeat important phrases to build familiarity with your message.

· Repeat your message in as many formats as is appropriate--letter, newsletter, speech, website, press conference. Repetition breeds familiarity.

· Even with a similar message, tailor the wording to your audience--you'd use different language with teachers than parents.

· Make sure that you present compelling evidence for your point of view. Consider the alternative--if we don't do "X," then this is what happens.

· Maintain your credibility--which is essential for all the prior points to be effective.