CRAFTING YOUR MESSAGE

Having a message is not sufficient to make the communication process a resounding success - Terry Mante

MESSAGE
AT THE heart of any communication endeavour is the message. There is no communication without a message. However, having a message is not sufficient to make the communication process a resounding success. It is the manner in which the message is prepared, the medium used to transmit the message, the credibility of the sender, timing of the message and state of the receiver that define the success or failure of the communication process.

Your message is important. That is why you must be particular about how you cultivate and deliver it. To ensure that your message is appropriately packaged and presented, you need to take care of the content and context.

CONTENT
EVERY message is packaged in words and symbols. These words and symbols are what we refer to as language. Language is the tool used to formulate the ideas that the originator of a message seeks to convey. If you want to bridge the gap between your intended message and actual interpretation, you must definitely work on your language. Two elements of language are critical.

First, grammar. Every language is governed by rules that must be observed by all users of that language. If you want to transmit a message in a particular language, ensure that you are well-versed in the rules of the language. You must also know how to apply these rules to make your message comprehensible.

If you communicate in English for example or any other language for that matter, you have to be conversant with subject-verb agreement, tenses and parts of speech (noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction and interjection). If you want to fix your message, you must fix your grammar.

The second critical element of a language is diction. Diction refers to the words you use to communicate your message in a manner that is clear, correct and effective. When you communicate, your goal is not to prove how many “big” words you can amass. Your goal is to ensure that you are understood. However, to have good diction you must expand your array of vocabulary. This will broaden your word options and help you to choose the appropriate words to transmit your message.

CONTEXT
IMAGINE your colleague at the office approach you with a grimace and a fisted arm with a message, “I congratulate you on your promotion. I look forward to working with you.” How would you receive such a message? With a pinch of salt I guess. This shows that in a message, content must be delivered in an appropriate context.

Context is the way the message is delivered; it is called paralanguage – the nonverbal elements in speech such as tone of voice, look in the sender’s eyes, body language, hand gestures, emotions, etc. Context or paralanguage is so powerful that if it is not well conceived by the receiver, the message will be distorted. Context projects the character of a message.

As an author and publisher I know that no matter how good a script is, poor presentation will water down its acceptability on the market. Font style, font size, typeset, design, binding style and print quality influence the character of a work of literature.

COMMUNICATION INFLUENCERS
THERE are four factors that could have an impact on your message.

1. Noise: These are extraneous factors that interfere with your message. They compete with you for the attention of the receiver.

2. Attitude: Don’t focus on yourself. Focus on the other party. If you focus too much on yourself, your message will achieve nothing but conflict and confusion. Watch out for defensiveness (feeling that someone is out there to get you), superiority (the feeling that you know more than the other person) and ego (making yourself the center of attention). Remember, attitude is everything!

3. Culture: Culture is the totality of knowledge, beliefs, arts, practices of a person or group of people. If you don’t have a fair knowledge of the culture of the receiver, you will likely send a misguided message.

4. Situation: Once, in my university days, I proposed to a lady friend right in the middle of examinations. While I was busily negotiating for space in her heart, she was wondering, “So Terry, how are you preparing for the next paper?” No wonder I was bounced. Be sensitive to the environment when you want to transmit a message.


© 2012 Terry Mante
E:: terrymante@live.com
T:: +233.268.816.545
PEDNET
Accra, Ghana