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SUGGESTIONS TO
IMPROVE PEOPLE'S
COMMUNICATION
When
communications
pose a specific
problem – in the
family or at
work – the
solution won’t
be so difficult
to find,
provided we
realize the
resources are
there, for us to
use to our best
advantage. Here
are some
examples:
Question: “My
husband and I
really enjoy
watching TV, so
much we have
noticed our
social life now
is almost nil.
We have been
talking about
this but we both
feel we find at
least one
program, every
evening, we
would like to
see. Whenever we
think about
inviting friends
over, our plans
never
materialize
because we
always come to
the conclusion
that we would
regret missing a
good show. At
the same time,
we know the
importance of
friends… (or
would they also
prefer to relax
in front of
their own TV
set?) ”
Your social life
need not suffer
due to your keen
interest in
television. Try
to arrange small
friendly
gatherings to
watch a
particular show,
mentioning this
when you make
the invitation.
Do allow time
for conversation
before and after
the program.
Don’t forget to
plan an
alternative, so
your evening or
afternoon may
still be a
success, in the
event of a last
minute change by
the tv station
or any other
circumstance.
For people who
don’t feel like
talking much,
after a normal
working day,
this “come for
dessert and TV
watching” has
just the right
ingredients,
combining social
and individual
satisfaction. It
is an
alternative and
an appealing
arrangement
which will sure
please the ones
who try it once.
Question: “We
have just
started a small
business. My
partner and I
feel we are
doing quite well,
though still not
able to hire a
full time public
relations
officer. I had
the idea of
contacting the
local school of
journalism in
order to hire a
student twice a
week. My partner
agrees but she
also suggested
we should enroll
in a short
course on
publicity and
propaganda. I
have no
objections to
her attending
this evening
course, since
that is what she
wants. Regarding
myself, I would
rather stay home
and read about
the subject. Or
should we just
leave the whole
thing as the
sole
responsibility
of the person we
are hiring part
time?”
You are both
right. It was
clever of you to
get someone to
look after the
public relations
aspects of your
business. You’ll
see this
experience will
pay dividends in
a short time. It
won’t be long
before your
business will
show profits
which originated
directly or
indirectly from
this special
project. Your
partner’s idea
also deserves
praise. A course
will enable her
to improve her
performance as
an executive, as
well as giving a
better
understanding of
the new position
in your
enterprise.
Aware of the
basic principles
involved, she
will give better
directions to
the new
part-time
employee. The
same will apply
to you, after
reading only one
of the several
books on the
market.
Question: “My
teenage nephew
lives with us.
He is very fond
of reading
newspapers and
magazines but I
just cannot get
him to write
thank you notes
and/or short
letters to
relatives and
friends. The
school reports
suggest his need
to practice
writing English.
Any ideas?”
Try to ask him
to write as a
journalist or a
writer would do,
for his favorite
newspaper or
magazine.
Impress upon
your nephew that
family and
friends would
like to hear
from him about
his activities,
plans and
preferences.
Encourage your
teenage relative
to tell others,
in writing,
about his
readings.
Theresa
Catharina de
Góes Campos
St.Paul´s
University -
Ottawa - Ontario,
Canada (October,
1971)
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