Wilbers: Managerial Communication - Writing for Business & Pleasure

Wilbers: Managerial Communication - Writing for Business & Pleasure

Good managers communicate their thoughts and expectations. They think in terms of relationships. They know how to convey their purpose in ways that are acceptable to their audience, and they know what they want their audience to do in response to their message.

How can you ensure that you are communicating effectively as a manager? Here, in 600 words and without charge for tuition, is Managerial Communication 101:

Determine your purpose. How can you get to where you want to be if you don’t know where you’re going?

Determine your purpose – your general goal and your specific objective. Be clear in your own mind about what you want your audience to do as a result of reading or hearing your message.

Identify and analyze your audience. Keep your audience in mind as you choose your approach, words, and tone. Determine if you have both a primary and a secondary audience and consider their differences.

In Guide to Managerial Communication, Mary Munter suggests four questions to help with audience analysis: Who is your audience? What do they know? What do they feel? How can you appeal to them?

Consider your audience’s values, biases, and concerns as you decide how much detail to offer, how long your document or presentation should be, what types of examples to include, and how directly or indirectly you should present your conclusion.

Determine a communication strategy. Identify the various options available for communicating your message. Which is most viable? Which is most efficient? Which is least risky?

Know when to write and when not to write. Keep in mind the limitations of written communication. Determine which issues are best communicated in writing and which in person. Don’t underestimate the value of give-and-take discussions and face-to-face contact. Decide whether your message would be conveyed more effectively by speaking to a group or speaking to an individual.

Consider your credibility in the eyes of your audience. If you have...

Similar Essays