On March 27, 1977, one of the most devastating accidents in air traffic history happened at the Los Rodeos airport in Tenerife, Spain.
On that day, a Boeing 747 plane, KLM Flight 4805, initiated takeoff and collided with another Boeing 747, Pan Am Flight 1736.
583 lives were lost with only 61 survivors, making this incident the deadliest mishap in air traffic history.
Subsequent investigations attributed the accident to a communication failure. The captain of the KLM had initiated takeoff with the wrong belief that he had been cleared by air traffic control. This miscommunication, in addition to the bad weather and thick fog, led to the collision with Pan Am Flight 1736 which was still on the runway.
Effective communication involves the exchange of data, information, knowledge, thoughts, ideas, and messages in such a way that all parties involved receive and understand the message without ambiguity.
Both sender and receiver are clear and satisfied when communication is effective.
The importance of effective communication cannot be over-emphasized.
For communication to be effective, it must be:
Clear – Clarity is an important characteristic of effective communication. Your verbal, audio-visual, or written communication must be composed in such a way that there is no doubt in the mind of the receiver about the content.
Clear communication makes it easier for the recipient to understand and also builds trust between sender and receiver.
Statistics shows that about 7000 Americans lose their lives annually due to handwriting errors in doctor prescriptions.
Correct – It is better you don’t communicate rather than send wrong information. Before you communicate, ensure that your content is truthful and error free.
Any facts or figures used in your message must be checked for accuracy and precision. Correct information reduces room for conflict and ensures that the content of your message is useful to the receiver.
Complete – Complete communication is crucial to decision-making. When communication is complete, it leaves no doubt in the mind of the receiver and reduces scope for misunderstanding or conflict.
Don’t leave out information that will leave the receiver unsure of what you are trying to say. This might lead to guesswork or cause unnecessary delays.
Concise – Don’t write a paragraph for content that can be communicated in a word. Effective communication doesn’t depend on the length or volume of the content.
The more you write or speak, the more room you give for errors or misunderstanding. As much as possible, go straight to the point.
Consistent – When you are passing a message, over time, you arrive at a template that is effective suits your audience. Once you get to this point, stick to it. This refers to communication channels (email, audio, video), font, time, location, tone, and so on.
This is why you see many organizations adopt standard fonts, colors, and meeting times. Consistency is key to effective communication.
Courteous – When you are communicating, ensure that you show adequate respect to the receiver. Consider the language, education, age, location, and other details about the receiver. While a mid-level manager might appreciate detailed reports, a CEO might prefer a summarized version.
Some people might prefer a one-on-one discussion while others are okay with an email. Your use of language should also consider the recipients. Older audience might pick offence with certain language that younger listeners might overlook.
You don’t want a situation where the message is ignored and focus shifts to the language or tone of your communication.
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