1. D R . N A J E E B U S S A Q L A I N
A S S O C I A T E P R O F E S S O R
N E D U E T
Seven C’s of Effective
Communication
2. Why Seven C’s!
Good communication skills are obviously a very
valuable employability characteristic. The work
environment responds positively to effectively
communicated ideas, knowledge and company-
related proposals.
Especially in this fast-paced era where technology
has made connecting people so much easier, more
is expected of employees.
Especially in this fast-paced era where technology
has made connecting people so much easier, more
is expected of employees.
3. Why Seven C’s!
Not only is this important in business leadership
situations but good oral and/or written
communication skills are almost always a
prerequisite for job promotion and career growth.
Seven “Cs” are identified as qualities of good
communication.
The following can even serve as an easy-to-
remember checklist you can refer to before you
deliver your message.
4. The C’s
According to the 7 C’s, communication needs
to be:
Clarity
Conciseness
Concreteness
Correctness
Completeness
Courtesy
Consideration
5. Clarity
When writing or speaking to someone, be clear
about your goal or message. What is your purpose
in communicating with this person? If you’re not
sure, then your audience won’t be sure either.
To be clear, try to minimize the number of ideas in
each sentence. Make sure it is easy for your
reader/audience to understand your meaning.
People shouldn’t have to “read between the lines”
and make assumptions on their own to understand
what you’re trying to say.
6. Clarity
Familiar words Pretentious words
After subsequent
Home domicile
Pay remuneration
Invoice statement of payment
Clarity makes comprehension easier.
7. Clarity
People should be able to understand the
purpose of your message quickly and easily.
Here are some specific ways to help make
your messages clear:
1. Choose short, precise, concrete,
familiar, conversational words.
2. Construct effective sentences and
paragraphs.
3. Include examples, illustrations, and
other visual aids, when desirable.
8. Conciseness
When you’re concise in your
communication, you stick and keep it brief.
Your audience doesn’t want to read six
sentences when you could communicate
your message in three.
Are there any adjectives or “filler-words”
that you can delete? You can often eliminate
words like “for instance”, “you see”,
“definitely”, “kind of”, “literally”, “basically”,
or “I mean”.
Are there any unnecessary sentences?
9. Conciseness
Have you repeated the point several times, in different
ways?
Eliminate wordy expressions.
Include only relevant material.
Avoid unnecessary repetition.
Single words instead of long phrases.
For example:
Due to the fact because
In due course soon
10. Conciseness
At this time now
Few in number few
On a weekly basis weekly
In spite of the fact that… although
Conciseness saves time
Keep your message as short as possible.
11. Concreteness
Communicating concretely means being specific,
definite, rather than unclear and general. It means your
message is practical and useful. You provide the right
amount of detail, and stay focused on your main
message.
When your message is concrete, then your audience has a
clear picture of what you’re telling them. There are
details (but not too many!) and vivid facts, and there’s a
laser-like focus. Your message is solid.
Use specific facts and figures.
Put Action in your Verbs.
Choose vivid, image-building words.
13. Correctness
Your communication is free of errors and mistakes.
If it is written, make sure you proofread it.
When your communication is correct, it fits your
audience.
Do the technical terms you use fit your audience’s
level of education or knowledge?
Have you checked your writing for grammatical
errors? Remember spell checkers won’t catch
everything.
Are all names and titles spelled correctly?
14. Correctness
Use the right level of language.
Check accuracy of figures, facts and words.
Maintain acceptable writing mechanics.
Correctness in message helps in building confidence.
15. Completeness
In a complete message, the audience has
everything they need to be informed and if
applicable, take action.
Does your message include a “call to action”, so
that your audience clearly knows what you want
them to do?
Have you included all relevant information-contact
names, dates, times, locations, and so on?
16. Completeness
Provide all necessary information.
Answer all questions asked.
Give something extra when desirable.
Focus on all “W’s”.
Completeness brings desired response.
For Example, when factory supervisor instructs workers to
produce, he must specify the exact size, shape, quality and
cost of the product. Any assumption behind the message
should also be clarified.
17. Courtesy
Courteous communication is friendly, open, and honest, there are
no hidden insults or passive-aggressive tones. You keep your
reader’s viewpoint in mind, and you’re empathetic to their needs.
Be Sincerely Tactful, Thoughtful and Appreciative.
Use Expressions that Show Respect.
Omit expressions that irritate, or hurt.
Choose Non-discriminatory Expressions.
Courteous message help to strengthen present business friendships,
as well as make new friends.
Courtesy strengthens relationship
18. Consideration
Consideration underlies the other six C’s of good business
communication.
You adapt your language and message content to your
receiver’s needs when you make your message complete,
concise, concrete, clear, and correct.
Consideration means that you prepare every message with
the audience in mind and try to put yourself in his place.
Try to visualize your readers(listeners) with their desires.
Then handle the matter from their point of view.
19. Consideration
Focus on “you” attitude instead of “I” or “we”.
Show reader/receiver benefit or interest in
reader/receiver.
Emphasize positive, pleasant facts.
Apply integrity and ethic.
Consideration helps in understanding human nature.
