It’s essential to
have good listening skills and good nonverbal communication skills when leading
individuals into policy change. It’s
good to be able to articulate speeches and write persuasive documents. However, if the individual is not aware of
what the audience feels or their response in the past to the situation then
crucial elements may get left out of the policy. It is often said that parents and educators
that work with children the most know what they need. In comparison, officials in high public
offices do not have a clear of a view as they should of what individuals in the
community may need due to their high offices. I personally believe that being a good
listener would encourage an individual trying to push a new policy for early
intervention to identify what the parents and educators concerns may be. Listening to the true issues of the people
also shows a certain maturity and growth level.
The understanding often is that the individual that is higher in policy
is open to paying attention to what the community and individuals are saying
(Helpguide.org, n.d.).
Nonverbal
communication is also a very essential communication tool. When marketing programs are set into place policymakers
must be able to read the nonverbal communication signs of the individual to determine if the person
is truly interested in supporting their efforts (Helpguide.org, n.d.).
The 7 C’s of
communication are also very effective in aiding
policy makers to determine what
information to keep in any type of communication method and what information
to delete. The 7C’s of communication can aid with
writing the policy as well as communicating the content in the policy. “According to the 7 Cs, communication needs
to be clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and
courteous”(Mind Tools, n.d.).
I need to work on
my own emotional awareness skills. I
often hold in my feelings regarding certain things due to not offending another
person, not wanting to be confrontational and simply hoping the problem will go
away. This is not a healthy way to deal
with my problems and could become an issue when addressing a major policy as
well. Its hard for me to deal with
constant rejection. However, I will have
to learn to work on managing my challenging feelings in my personal life so
that it will be easier in my professional life.
A problem that needs to be solved cannot be solved by an individual that
is timid or afraid of the word “no.”
Everyone will not accept my suggestion for policy change and I will have
to realize that everyone does not have the same vision (Helpguide.org, n.d.).
References
Helpguide.org.
(n.d.). Effective communication. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/effective_communication_skills.htm
Mind Tools. (n.d.). The 7
Cs of communication: A checklist for clear communication. Retrieved October 15,
2013, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm
