2. Step 2: Determine the Purpose, and Select an Appropriate Channel and Medium

To communicate effectively you must decide what you are trying to say before you write or speak. Carefully analyzing the purpose and channel of your message will result in a more successful message that can help you maintain goodwill, be more productive, and maintain a high level of professionalism.

You need to hold a meeting with your team to discuss upcoming budget reallocations. Your team is spread around the globe at all your international offices. You must decide if you should meet with them face-to-face or using a video-based conferencing system. The channel choice consideration you might want to address is the .

Which of these actions will help you determine the purpose of your message? Check all that apply.

Organize the message according to audience expectations.

Have the receiver understand logical information.

Ask yourself why you are preparing the message.

Choose the appropriate format.

Read the scenario, and then answer the question about determining the message purpose.

Leslie manages a team of sales representatives. To build rapport with her team, she decides to treat them to lunch. Leslie sends an email to her team, letting them know that she will be taking everyone out for lunch the following Monday.

In this situation, is the purpose of Leslies email to inform or to persuade?

Persuade

Inform

Why would an email be the most appropriate channel for Leslies invitation?

Email is used for sending brief messages that are routine.

Email coveys a tone of appreciation easily.

Email provides a personalized touch and connection.

Read the scenario, and then answer the corresponding questions.

You are the general manager of a sizable car dealership in Lubbock, Texas. Although your dealership narrowly escaped closure during the recent recession, car and truck sales continue to decline. To remain profitable, you will need to eliminate five positions within the dealership.

Before you begin laying off employees, you decide that, to avoid misinformation, your employees should know about the dealerships difficult situation and your plans to reduce the size of its staff. You begin to plan a message to the employees to prepare them for the hard decisions that the dealership will have to make in the next few months.

Which is the most likely purpose for your message in this scenario?

To build goodwill with corporate headquarters

To manage the situation and prevent rumors

To scare employees into better job performance

The best channel for delivering the previous message is a .