From Ken Karch...
Seven (7) years ago, The associations first General Manager, Ken Karch, made the following comment on this blog. The information he provided at that time is still relevant today. The points he make here were the intent of the Technology Committee. Thank you Ken for all you did for Surfside and your contributions to this blog.
Members interested in the communications issues raised on this blog may find the attached material from SHOA’s draft Strategic Communications Plan, dated March of 2008 informative.
Despite more than a year of effort by most members of the (then) Board, the plan was never finally adopted. Attached below are some basic truths about effective, results-oriented communication found in the draft SHOA Plan: “…
Some Basic Truths About Effective, Results-Oriented Communication
1. Communication is an integral part of managing an organization, both inside and outside. Good communication skills are essential for members of the organization to succeed.
2. Communication is a tool which can be used for organizational success.
3. Good communication can provide a performance edge over organizations who do not inform, involve and motivate their people well.
4. Communication skills can be learned. The more they are used, the more effective they become.
5. People can and will achieve virtually anything asked of them. First they need to know what the objective is, why it is important to them, and how they can help reach it.
6. Effective communication does not occur when a message is written or spoken, but when it is understood.
7. Communication that motivates isn’t “top down” or “bottom up.” It is something which takes place “among us.”
8. When a manager says, “now I’ll go communicate,” he’s missing the point. Communication goes on all the time. Whenever a job requires more than one person, it also requires communication. The only choice is whether or not to channel that communication for effectiveness.
9. Today’s bottom-line organizational communication is a behavioral science. Its purpose is to create an environment in which trustees, managers, employees, committee members, and volunteers want to -- and can -- help an organization achieve its goals.
10. The most credible, persuasive communication occurs directly between two people, face-to-face.
11. In the absence of credible information, people quickly fill any “communication vacuum” with rumor, speculation and misinformation.
12. The guts of effective communication is effective listening. That means asking questions people can answer with more than a yes or a no -- like questions that begin with who, what, where, when, why or how. When you do this, you get back good ideas. The people you have asked feel important. They know you care about them.
13. People’s need for information increases during periods of change. Meeting this need speeds understanding and reduces stress.
14. Most people are not good at receiving/processing large streams of information in a single communication (the “avalanche” approach). It is better to communicate with few messages, frequently (the snowball” approach).
15. Your credibility as a communicator is your most valuable asset. Credibility cannot be assumed, it must be continually earned...daily.
16. Today’s bottom-line results reflect past communications. Today’s communication will shape and determine future results.
17. Sharing business/issue information openly and candidly with all members must be the rule rather than the exception.
18. Not communicating is in itself a powerful form of communication…” Ken Karch, PE
No comments:
Post a Comment