Effective communication begins with first understanding how the communication process works. The sender-message-channel-receiver model5 describes the communication process. The SMCR model is described pictorially below.

[SMCR model will be placed here soon.]

The Sender
The sender has to be aware of six variables when communicating with another person.

• Sender's communication skills
• Sender's attitudes
• Sender's knowledge level
• Sender's social position
• Sender's culture
• Feedback received by sender

Each variable affects how we transmit our message and how the message will be received.

The Message
The message has three components:

• Content
• Context
• Treatment
  

• Sensory channels
• Institutional channels

The Receiver
The receiver of the information has to use the same skill set as the sender with an additional variable—the credibility of the speaker.