Characteristics of effective communicators: perceptions of Indian managers

Abstract

Attempts to seek an understanding of who is an effective communicator in the perceptions of the receivers of communication. Twelve focus group discussions of senior and middle managers attending management development programmes at The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad were conducted. Participants were asked to think of someone whom they knew personally and perceived to be an effective communicator. They were then asked to discuss the characteristics of their perceived effective communicator. The responses were analyzed to characterize effective communicators. Conceptual factor analysis of the responses revealed five factors that were perceived as contributing to the effectiveness of communicators. The results are discussed and implications for training executives in effective communication are suggested.