Communications – The 4C’s

The First C: Comprehension

In my introduction to Effective Communication (part I), I referred to the 4C’s of effective communication,  and how we need to be aware of these and how to use these 4C’s in our daily lives.  Today I am going to clarify the first C – ‘Comprehension’.  To comprehend means  do you and your reader understand what has been written; is the main idea or point understood.

Lets look at a few examples of badly written communications:

• Example 1.
  • he appeal of the view that a work of art expresses nothing unless what it expresses can be put into words can be reduced by setting beside it another view, no less popular in the theory of art, that a work of art has no value if what it expresses can be put into words.

• Example 2
  • Ms. W!!!!Wazzup? girl tell me what we have to do for Friday bcuz I take 3 claeses and wrk 15 hrs/wk and I dont have time 2 git to a comupter to look n e thing up I rlly like your cls bcuz your funny well let me know cuz im a rlly gd stdt and need a A in you’re cls.[no signature]

    – See more at: http://www.teachingcollegeenglish.com/2009/07/26/examples-of-poor-email/#sthash.mA8iKyQg.dpuf

Here are three tips for better comprehension:

• Make the message clear and sharp
• Repetition helps.  Tell them what you’re going to tell them; next, tell them; and then tell them what you told them
• Keep it simple – don’t go too deep

The old adage of KISS – Keep it Short and Simple