Sheet 18
GOOD COMMUNICATION
Members of government organizations must take care of the following points if communication is to flow smoothly. Supervisors, in particular, at a juncture position between senior officials and junior staff are required to be good communicators.
1 Sense of Teamwork among Members of the Same Organization
It is important for staff to remember that the people with whom they communicate at work are members of the same organization attempting to accomplish the same organizational goals. They must strive to build good communications with colleagues in other sections if overall operations are to run smoothly. It has a detrimental effect on the organization if employees limit communication to the interests of their own unit.
2 Selectivity over the best Person with whom to Communicate
The choice of with whom to communicate is very important. Effective communication where information is conveyed from one party to another, can be judged by the reaction it receives. If the person who receives the information reacts inappropriately or doesn't react at all, they were the wrong person to convey this information to in the first place. It is essential that staff be cautious over their choice of with whom to communicate, otherwise very important information may not be utilized.
3 Respect for the Position and Opinions of Others
Communication is ineffective if one party persists in enforcing their opinion without listening to what the other has to say. Good communication requires that all parties concerned pay attention to the position, opinions, and feelings of the other.
4 Messages That Are Clear and Concise
If the information to be conveyed is presented in a disorganized manner, the recipient is likely to be confused or misunderstand. The person who conveys this type of message may understand the point of it themselves, but the recipient, with no background knowledge of what it might be in reference to, will be incapable of comprehending it in one single listening. It is important to clarify in advance that the message to be conveyed is both clear and concise. This may be done so by checking it against the points mentioned in reference to 5W1H.
