Effective communication: what it is and how to practice it

One of the aspects that must be taken into account in any company and project, especially when working in a team, is that internal communication is adequate, and that actually responds to the stated objectives. This is what is defined as effective communication, which ensures that the message communicated by the sender reaches the receiver in perfect conditions and without the possibility of ambiguous or incomplete interpretations. 

What is effective communication?

Effective communication is usually defined as communication that, in all its elements (sender, receiver, message, channel, etc.), responds to a specific communication that does not leave room for possible contradictory or incomplete interpretations. In other words, effective communication is that in which the message transmitted by the sender reaches the receiver in perfect conditions and really responds to the message. what the sender intends to convey with its issuance. 

The importance of effective communication

The importance of effective communication lies in the fact that communication is a necessary and indispensable tool in any situation, including the working environments. In fact, in those team-based workspaces, It plays an even more important role, since the existence or not of effective communication will determine whether all the tasks and the project organisation itself are aligned with each other and will allow the project to progress correctly. 

In fact, ineffective communication in the work environment often leads to mishaps and wasteful consumption of resources. For example, if the project manager's communication with his subordinates is not effective, this can lead to time and effort being spent on a task that is not going to be useful for the project, so that, once it is completed, the lack of usefulness of the task will be verified and the situation will be the same as at the beginning of the initial communication. All because there was no effective communication between sender and receiver. 

Keys to practising effective communication

There are many elements that help to foster effective communication, which should be taken into account by both the sender and the receiver of the message. Some of the most common due to their importance and effect on communication are the following: 

• Addressing the issues individuallyWhen delivering a message and communicating effectively, it is essential to avoid dealing with several issues at the same time, as this can mislead the receiver or misrepresent the information conveyed. Instead, divide each topic into a specific message and address each of them individually and in an orderly fashion. 
• Be specificOr, in other words, avoid generalisations. It is important to be concrete and specific in the message you want to convey. In this sense, it is essential to choose the right words and the way in which you express the idea you want to convey. In this way, you seek to avoid ambiguity or different interpretations, which will help communication to be efficient and the transmission of information to be effective. 
• Use understandable (non-literary) language.Language can be used in many ways and, depending on the elements to be promoted, it is important to use it in one way or another. In order to ensure effective communication, it is important to favour the use of language that is understandable and easy to understand. In this sense, it is preferable for the message to be less aesthetic if, as a result, the transmission of information will be more effective. Literary or pompous language should be avoided, and should be reserved for texts or speeches whose purpose is to achieve aesthetic value rather than functional value. 
• Be briefUsing the right words, the necessary information can be conveyed without the need for large texts or speeches, which also makes it easier for the receiver to understand. 
• Ask rather than assumeIf, after receiving the sender's message, the receiver does not fully understand something that has been said, it is essential to ask questions and not to assume anything. What is assumed has not been said, but is an interpretation of what has been said. It can therefore lead to ambiguities and, consequently, to ineffective communication. If effective communication between sender and receiver is to be ensured, the receiver must also make every effort to ensure that the communication is correct.