COMMUNICATI

ON SKILLS

Tonnie Iredia & Associates

Management Consultants
BACKGROUND

◦ Ordinarily a simple phenomenon

◦ Fast becoming a complex subject
of technology.
◦ It can refer to several things.
◦ Popular usage – the
transmission of messages from
one source to another
AIMS OF COMMUNICATION

To establish and disseminate the goals of a

policy
 To propagate the plans for the achievement of set

goals
 To effectively coordinate resources, human and

material
 To create a conducive climate for interaction,

collaboration and cooperation

 To place a group in a position to relate smoothly

with the external public

ESSENCE OF COMMUNICATION

 To successfully execute a policy, those to

implement must be properly briefed on the
objectives of the policy
 The briefing must be fully assimilated by all
 Workers commitment is contingent on their

understanding of the essence of the policy

 High degree of efficiency in implementation

generates public confidence in a policy.

COMMUNICATION AS A CONCEPT
The transmission of messages among sources

Can be one source to another, can be several sources

Can be Public or Private

 Public Communication involves 2 sets of sources :

a) within a Public entity
b) between it and its external environment
CRUCIAL ELEMENTS


Sender- source of origin of a message or
version of it.

 Message- the transmitted information

 Medium- the method of transmission of a

message

 Receiver- the source which receives a message .

RELATIONSHIPS BTW ELEMENTS
 The elements are inter-related making the
subject a process

 Without any of them, Communication

cannot take place.

 A sender who wants to communicate with a

receiver must have a message which
must be passed through a medium
BASIC/STRATEGIC POLICY
INFORMATION

 Purpose of a policy-What informed it?

 Structure of implementation body-organization

 Importance of each unit, section etc

 Significance of Communication flow within &

outside the Organization- systems approach.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

A)Involves Understanding
* Consensus ad idem between Sender &
Receiver
B)Notes the differences in human endowment

*Relativity of response to stimuli

* Reasoned Action
C)Recognizes the Theory of Selectivity

* Perception, Exposure, Retention

• * Belief Model
COMMUNICATION PATTERNS

* Patterns can be uni–directional (one-way)

or bi- directional (two-way)
- Upward – bottom up flow
- Downward – pushing down directives
- Crosswise – among peers
* Efficacy of every pattern depends on
- Time
- Social system
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
Can be formal or informal

*Written- memos, circulars, petitions etc

*Oral- meetings, seminars, telephones etc
*Sign/Symbol- forms of body language

Note
Grapevine- rumour, gossips, amebo.com
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

 An Articulated Dissemination Plan.

Institutional
 Adopt Techniques which address
* Role Ambiguity/Role Confusion
* Ambiguous Delegation of Duties
i.e. Fna, treat etc

 Be cautious with Body Language

 React positively to grapevine

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 2

 Societal -Public Enlightenment

* Pre-event publicity
-Policy rationale
-Merits of Policy
-Public role
* Progress Report
* Post-event publicity
Information Management3: Media
WHICH MEDIA?

Confidence building
Partnership
 Lead

Avoid Vacuum
Discourage the use of rejoinders
 Formalize briefing

Institutionalize- Place, Date & Time

Accredit
 Communicate Effectively- use best presentation skills
CHALLENGES
 Public Sector Tradition
-To be seen and not to be heard
-Rules (C.S.R) on information flow
-Legislation
*Official Secrets Act
*Protection of Public Officers Act
*Freedom of Information Bill
 Fire brigade Advocacy Culture
 Poor Literacy rate
 High Degree of Cynicism
CONCLUSION
• What is not known is not seen as done

• When is silence golden?

• Information empowers all

• Vacuum destroys all

• Speak before the end of time