How good are you at communicating important facts and situations with your employees, customers and other stakeholders? Even if you’re not running a large, Fortune-500 Corporation - or even the Department of Defense, for that matter - it’s ultra important to always have good communications with those affected by your organization.

This post was inspired by the rather large breakdown in communications with the U.S. Defense Department, which recently had poor timing and bad judgment on scheduling a “photo op” of the plane that functions as Air Force One flying by the Statue of Liberty in Manhattan, New York. The plane was flanked by a U.S. fighter jet and sent shock waves throughout the city (images of Sept. 11 came to mind for thousands). The action even affected stock prices for some time. The Military scheduled the photo opportunity in an effort to update their file photos of Air Force One.

No one provided warning ahead of time because of a breakdown in communications between the Defense Department and the City of New York.

If anything, this situation should remind all business owners - large and small - of the importance of having clear communications on all initiatives (not to mention good judgment at all times). Here are a few other reasons why ineffective communications can be detrimental to your business. It’s even good to know the different types of business communication.

Here are ten tips that may help you communicate more effectively with employees, customers and stakeholders:

1. Two-Way Street: Don’t just talk over the other person. Listen to others very carefully.

2. Build Trust: Be honest and very open about what you are trying to say.

3. Expression: Body language can be very important. Be very careful how you say something, as well as what you say. Nonverbal communication is critical in most situations.

4. Question Yourself: Before every form of written and verbal communication, remember to ask yourself if it is exactly what you want to be communicating. Think of how it will affect different publics.

5. Assumptions: If someone says something to you, never assume anything. Always ask lots of questions to make sure you know exactly what they mean.

6. Be Direct: Avoid gossip at all cost. If you have an issue with someone, approach them directly and work to get on the same page.

7. Match Tone: Try to adjust your tone to the other person you’re speaking with. By doing so, you’ll avoid sounding defensive or offensive to the other person.

8. Open Mind: While listening to what others have to say, always have an open mind. Don’t rush to judgment. Think about the ramifications and opportunities in others’ ideas, not just your own.

9. Calm Down: If you are angry over something, do not rush to judgment and respond without taking some time to calm down and think it over. If possible, wait 24 hours before responding.

10. Technical Jargon: Try to avoid using technical language and jargon as it can frequently be misunderstood by people in your audience.