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Friday, January 18, 2008

The skills of effective communication

Much of the skill in effective communication lies in recognising the problem areas one

have just identified. Effective communication is achieved as much as anything by

avoiding these traps. Positive approaches are, however, also necessary. One positive

approach is that of coaxing information out of people.

Coaxing information

It may be necessary for managers to work hard at this, particularly if people feel inhibited

about discussing a particular issue. The lament ‘why didn’t someone tell me’ can be as

much a condemnation of a manager’s lack of skill in developing effective channels of

communication as a condemnation of others for keeping him in the dark. It can be very

hard for those in authority roles to realise the difficulty that others may have in

communicating with

them. The authority figure may feel totally relaxed and uninhibited and not appreciate that

perhaps the very factors which create his security create difficulties for others. The

proprietor of a business may feel totally self¬confident and secure and be amazed to

find out, if he ever does, that people who are very dependent on him are reluctant to tell

him anything unpleasant. The same problem can be encountered by parents with their

children. They may forget what it was like to be a child and be blissfully unaware of many

of the thoughts and anxieties that their own children have and see any suggestion to the

contrary as quite preposterous.

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