To be an effective Captain you need to be able to communicate effectively. You have to be able to transfer your thoughts, ideas, plans, decisions and requirements to the other members of your team. You will also have to absorb and understand thoughts, ideas, plans, decisions and requirements from other people. Communication is a two way thing.
To help understand how to effectively communicate we’ll look at a basic model of the communication process.
Message Preparation takes place. This message contains the idea, knowledge, goal, decision, information, intention or opinion. If the message sender is unable to formulate a sensible, coherent and understandable message the remainder of the communication process is useless (GIGO – Garbage In, Garbage Out).
A Transmitter sends the message. This transmitter may be you or another person, a document or publication, an ATC radio message, electronic (ACARS or FMS via a keyboard or MCP/FCU) or a visual marshalling signal.
The transmitter Encodes the message and then sends it. The encoding may take the form of the English language (verbal), it might be an accepted visual signal, PFD word or symbol, correct radio phraseology or written words, usually in a very specific technical aviation jargon in our particular Command case.
The Message Transmission occurs via some sort of Medium. This may be via sound if you are talking face to face with someone, electrical and sound if receiving a radio call via a headset or speaker, purely electrical if using the FMS or visual if looking at a PFD, person or book.
A Receiver intercepts the message. This receiver, like the transmitter, can be another person (the usual case) or may be electronic (e.g. ACARS, a computer or the FMS).
The receiver then Decodes the message. The decoding is the opposite of encoding. Effective decoding relies on the transmitter and receiver using the same encode/decode methodology, language and conventions.
After decoding the receiver carries out Message Interpretation. This is NOT the same as understanding the Transmitter’s intended message; Interpretation is the individual receiver’s perception of the received message (which may or may not be correct).
Effective communication only takes place if after decoding and interpreting, the receiver actually Understands the transmitter’s message. Ineffective communication can take place from the transmitter’s message preparation, through any other part of the Basic Communication Model to the receiver’s message interpretation.
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This is the very basic Communication Model that all forms of communication follow. But, as we have seen communication is a dialogue, a two way process.
Both the transmitter and the receiver are actually combined Transmitter/Receivers and messages are being sent simultaneously in both directions providing Feedback to both the primary transmitter and the primary receiver. This feedback is very important as it one way for the transmitter to ensure that the message has been received, decoded correctly, interpreted correctly and so understood effectively. The intention of the message has been properly conveyed from the transmitter to the receiver.
If you cannot get your message understood effectively you have failed at the communication process. That failure can occur at any stage from the message preparation, transmit, encode, message transmission via the medium, reception, decode and message understanding. The feedback mechanism provides one method for the transmitter to ensure that the message is received and correctly understood.
The communication process is further complicated by Noise. Noise is anything that distorts the message. It can distort or interfere with the transfer of information at any stage from Message Preparation to Message Interpretation and during Feedback. Noise is usually thought of when considering sound, but for the purposes of our discussion it is the interference with any of the different Mediums of communication. For instance, you may not be able to adequately read the PFD or a document if it is bathed in bright sunlight or the display or words are printed incorrectly or illegibly.
By understanding the Basic Communication Model you will be more aware of where the act of communication can potentially breakdown or be degraded. Communication is an essential skill that you require as the Captain.
So practice being the best communicator you can be.
Good Captains and good Leaders are good communicators.
To help understand how to effectively communicate we’ll look at a basic model of the communication process.
Message Preparation takes place. This message contains the idea, knowledge, goal, decision, information, intention or opinion. If the message sender is unable to formulate a sensible, coherent and understandable message the remainder of the communication process is useless (GIGO – Garbage In, Garbage Out).
A Transmitter sends the message. This transmitter may be you or another person, a document or publication, an ATC radio message, electronic (ACARS or FMS via a keyboard or MCP/FCU) or a visual marshalling signal.
The transmitter Encodes the message and then sends it. The encoding may take the form of the English language (verbal), it might be an accepted visual signal, PFD word or symbol, correct radio phraseology or written words, usually in a very specific technical aviation jargon in our particular Command case.
The Message Transmission occurs via some sort of Medium. This may be via sound if you are talking face to face with someone, electrical and sound if receiving a radio call via a headset or speaker, purely electrical if using the FMS or visual if looking at a PFD, person or book.
A Receiver intercepts the message. This receiver, like the transmitter, can be another person (the usual case) or may be electronic (e.g. ACARS, a computer or the FMS).
The receiver then Decodes the message. The decoding is the opposite of encoding. Effective decoding relies on the transmitter and receiver using the same encode/decode methodology, language and conventions.
After decoding the receiver carries out Message Interpretation. This is NOT the same as understanding the Transmitter’s intended message; Interpretation is the individual receiver’s perception of the received message (which may or may not be correct).
Effective communication only takes place if after decoding and interpreting, the receiver actually Understands the transmitter’s message. Ineffective communication can take place from the transmitter’s message preparation, through any other part of the Basic Communication Model to the receiver’s message interpretation.
This is the very basic Communication Model that all forms of communication follow. But, as we have seen communication is a dialogue, a two way process.
Both the transmitter and the receiver are actually combined Transmitter/Receivers and messages are being sent simultaneously in both directions providing Feedback to both the primary transmitter and the primary receiver. This feedback is very important as it one way for the transmitter to ensure that the message has been received, decoded correctly, interpreted correctly and so understood effectively. The intention of the message has been properly conveyed from the transmitter to the receiver.
If you cannot get your message understood effectively you have failed at the communication process. That failure can occur at any stage from the message preparation, transmit, encode, message transmission via the medium, reception, decode and message understanding. The feedback mechanism provides one method for the transmitter to ensure that the message is received and correctly understood.
The communication process is further complicated by Noise. Noise is anything that distorts the message. It can distort or interfere with the transfer of information at any stage from Message Preparation to Message Interpretation and during Feedback. Noise is usually thought of when considering sound, but for the purposes of our discussion it is the interference with any of the different Mediums of communication. For instance, you may not be able to adequately read the PFD or a document if it is bathed in bright sunlight or the display or words are printed incorrectly or illegibly.
By understanding the Basic Communication Model you will be more aware of where the act of communication can potentially breakdown or be degraded. Communication is an essential skill that you require as the Captain.
So practice being the best communicator you can be.
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