Identify the Content and Purpose of Your Message: “I’ve got an idea!” 1. The beginning of all communication is an idea. While some people may be accused of speaking without thinking, we all start with a message that we wish to convey to someone, the content. Good communicators also think about the purpose of the communication. Is it simply to inform someone of your thought? Perhaps it is trying to persuade or maybe impress them. In any case, a message without purpose is ineffective communication. Identify Your Audience: one size does not fit all. The next step in the communication process is to identify your audience. Are you communicating with a friend, a roomful of strangers, or a professor? The better communicators are those who take the time to analyze the audience and tailor the message to fit. How Formal Should Your Tone Be? Once the purpose and audience have been defined, the decision can be made as to how formal the tone of your message should be. We all speak and write in many different variations of English. The way we address our closest friends is usually less formal than the way we address casual acquaintances, people in authority or those that command a certain level of respect. Each level of formality has a set of rules that one must follow. For instance, the more formal the communication, the stricter one should adhere toproper grammar, sentence structure and spelling. The more informal, the more one can use slang,abbreviations, shorthand and incomplete sentences. What Medium Should You Choose? Still another decision that must be made based on the level of formality is the medium the message will be delivered in or, stated another way, how are you going to send the message? Will it be in a typed letter, a handwritten note, a text message? Each of these implies a certain level of formality with a text or instant message being less formal than a typed term paper or business letter. How should you organize your message? And finally, you need to organize your message. Readers or listeners are much more apt to understand what you’re communicating when the message has an organization that’s logical and efficient. ...

1. Identify the Content and Purpose of Your Message: “I’ve got an
idea!”
1. The beginning of all communication is an idea. While some
people may be accused of speaking without thinking, we all
start with a message that we wish to convey to someone, the
content.
Good communicators also think about the purpose of the
communication. Is it simply to inform someone of your thought?
Perhaps it is trying to persuade or maybe impress them. In any
case, a message without purpose is ineffective communication.
Identify Your Audience: one size does not fit all.
The next step in the communication process is to identify your
audience. Are you communicating with a friend, a roomful of
strangers, or a professor? The better communicators are those
who take the time to analyze the audience and tailor the
message to fit.
How Formal Should Your Tone Be?
Once the purpose and audience have been defined, the decision
can be made as to how formal the tone of your message should
be. We all speak and write in many different variations of
English. The way we address our closest friends is usually less
formal than the way we address casual acquaintances, people in
authority or those that command a certain level of respect.
Each level of formality has a set of rules that one must follow.
For instance, the more formal the communication, the stricter
one should adhere toproper grammar, sentence structure and
spelling. The more informal, the more one can use
slang,abbreviations, shorthand and incomplete sentences.
What Medium Should You Choose?
Still another decision that must be made based on the level of
formality is the medium the message will be delivered in or,

2. stated another way, how are you going to send the message?
Will it be in a typed letter, a handwritten note, a text message?
Each of these implies a certain level of formality with a text or
instant message being less formal than a typed term paper or
business letter.
How should you organize your message?
And finally, you need to organize your message. Readers or
listeners are much more apt to understand what you’re
communicating when the message has an organization that’s
logical and efficient.