When communicating with others, far more important than what you say is what is heard.  We spend the majority of our time in some form of communication, ranging from sending to receiving.

Whether, reading listening to music or a speech, watching entertainment live or recorded, the variety of communication forms is wide and varied.

The key to effective communication is not dependent on the communication form, rather it is the translation of the message into meaning by the recipient.

Regardless of type of communication, the most skilled communicators focus on their audience.

It’s not about you

The most common mistake is crafting the message to tell your story.  Story telling is a fantastic way to pass a message but for it to resonate and be understood the story needs to be aimed at the audience (for them, not for you).

What I want you to know and what you want to know are the two most basic underlying considerations to help you craft your message.

The skill is integrating the information so it is targeted with the audience in mind yet satisfies the scope of all stakeholders, that is both sender and receivers needs are met.

Don’t Ignore the Purpose

What is heard is the message.  If it does not meet your expectation the purpose is not satisfied.  Regardless of how skilled you were at crafting and delivering the message, if it does communicate what was intended, you have failed.

Remember, focus the message on the audience,but not at the expense of neccessary content.  Mould the message to fit the audiences and during delivery continually monitor reaction to gauge your success.

To the best of your ability judge if they are hearing what you are sending.