It was my daughter’s birthday recently and I wanted to buy her some bath salts. I was expecting it to be a quick shopping trip. However, each shop I tried, didn’t have any. It was becoming more of a mission. I then headed to one of the Department stores. Surely, they would have some. I made a beeline for the beauty section, assuming the bath salts would be there. Not seeing any, I asked a salesperson for help. She gave me wonderful directions to any area past the shoe section. As I walked in that direction, it felt like a strange location. I was starting to question whether she misheard me. Did she think I was looking for socks? Turns out she did.

This experience highlights the challenges of communication. People listen and absorb information differently. It's easy for the sender to believe they have communicated clearly, only to be frustrated when things don't go as planned. Poor communication, or a lack of it, is often blamed in such situations.

Applying this in a business context, ensuring there is effective communication is important when delivering a message that will require action. This is particularly important when implementing any change in a business.

Here are 5 steps you can take to ensure that communication is well received and absorbed:

⭐ Tailor the message to the specific needs and language of the different stakeholders

⭐ Clearly outline what you want to achieve with the communication

⭐ Avoid jargon and ensure the message is easy to understand

⭐ Encourage questions and feedback to ensure understanding

⭐ Monitor the effectiveness of the communication and make adjustments

By following these steps, the information you want to deliver will be better understood and absorbed by all stakeholders. Communication done well can make a big difference to achieving your goals.