Discuss and provide examples of why selection of the proper communication medium is so important

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Students' answers may vary. There are many different channels through which to communicate: letter, email, phone conversation, voice mail, face-to-face meeting, social media, etc. When you choose your channel you should pick the one that best supports the purpose of your message. Imagine that you need to make a request of a coworker. Is it a request that could be easily made with a brief phone chat? Or does it require a more complex explanation that would best be served by a well-organized written document? You must also consider the channel that will best allow the receiver to process the information you are communicating. While a short chat may seem the quickest way to make your request to a coworker, it might have pitfalls. The coworker may be busy at the time of an unexpected phone call and not have the ability to properly focus on your request while you are speaking. Consequently, she may not understand what you are asking and either incorrectly fulfill your request or need to keep contacting you with questions. A written document, on the other hand, would allow your coworker to refer back to details of your request without asking for clarification. The selection of the communication medium has a great effect on whether or not your message is clearly communicated and correctly decoded by your receiver.