The most important aspect of effective communication in academic and professional endeavors is to know your audience. You can effectively reach your audience by communicating in a direct and creative style that inspires or intrigues your reader or listener. Formal and impersonal communication can appear too self-conscious and inaccessible. Informal and relaxed communication may be too casual for highly-intellectual presentations or debates. You can reach a balance with well-formatted research, professional vocabulary and a personable approach.
Oral communication with professors, classmates and academic forums require developed skills, with clearly presented ideas and streamlined thoughts. Before a formal presentation, you should write out your main ideas, develop an outline, rehearse in a mirror and tape record you speech. Prepare a power-point presentation and learn to take constructive criticism. Ask a friend or classmate for feedback. In an informal situation, you might want to jot down a few critical points to discuss. Refrain from inappropriate jokes or irrelevant stories. Relevant fun facts can show that you have a personal interest in the subject matter.
Written communication ranges from an informal email to a thesis paper. The most effective written communication starts with the appropriate salutation, heading or title. This establishes the first impression of who you are and what you have to say. Spell check is a close second. A single misspelled word can suggest inattention to detail or a nonchalant attitude towards producing high-quality work. Grammar and vocabulary choices can engage or disengage the reader. Academically, you must research facts, cite references and present unique and intriguing arguments.