Jo Koster
Department of English
What is involved in communication?
Sender (writer, speaker)
Receiver (reader, audience)
Message (content)
Medium (paper, oral, electronic, etc)
How does communication work?
Internally (from insider to insider)
Externally (from insider to outsider)
Upward flow (to your superiors)
Lateral flow (to your peers)
Downward flow (to your subordinates)
What makes communication effective?
Focus--aimed at the audience, not talking to yourself (ie reader-based, not writer-based)
Clarity--well organized, to the point, without jargon or lard
Accuracy--facts correct, execution perfect
Timeliness--get the information to readers when they need it
What makes communication fail?
Barriers (physical, cultural, social)
Poor strategy (writer-based)
Poor execution (mistakes)
How do you become an effective communicator?
Think strategically (know why you do what you do)
Have an audience-based focus
Never accept less than your best
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Be willing to learn from your mistakes
What resources do you have?
Textbook
Webpage: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/kosterj/ writ465/bizpro.htm
Writing Center
Dr. Koster’s office
Each other