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364 | Model Question Papers
v. Congeniality: They maintain friendly, pleasant relations with you. Regardless of
whether you agree with them, good communicators command your respect and
goodwill. You are willing to work with them again, despite your differences.
Effective communicators work hard at perfecting the messages they deliver. When they
make mistakes, they learn from them. If a poorly written memo does not get the response
they hoped for, they change their approach the next time around. If a meeting they are
running gets out of control or becomes unproductive, they do things differently at the
next one. If they find themselves having to explain themselves over and over again, they
reevaluate their choice of communication medium or rework their message.
It is essential to understand what it means to communicate effectively. Four themes
emerge as effective guidelines for overcoming barriers and improving your communi-
cation skills:
i. Fostering an open communication climate.
ii. Committing to ethical communication,
iii. Adopting an audience-centred approach to communication.
Fostering an open communication climate
An organization’s or educational institute’s communication climate is a reflection of its culture:
the mixture of values, traditions, and habits that give a place to its atmosphere or personality.
Some academic institution’s tend to block off the upward flow of communication, believing
that debate is time consuming and unproductive. Some other institutions, work to maintain an
open communication climate. They encourage openness and honesty, and their employees feel
free to confess their mistakes, to disagree with the superiors, and to express their opinions.
Committing to ethical communication
The second guideline for effective communication is a commitment to ethics, the principles of
conduct that govern a person or a group. Unethical people are essentially selfish and unscrupu-
lous, saying or doing whatever it takes to achieve an end. Ethical people are generally trustworthy,
fair, and impartial, respecting the rights of others and concerned about the impact of their actions
on society. Former Supreme Court Justice Mr. Venkata Chalamaiah defined ethics as ‘knowing
the difference between what you have a right to do and what is the right thing to do’.
Ethics plays a crucial role in communication. Language itself is made up of words that
carry values. So merely by saying things a certain way, you influence how others perceive
your message, and you shape expectations and behaviours. Ethical communication includes
all relevant information, is true in every sense, and is not deceptive in any way.
When sending an ethical message, you are accurate and sincere. You avoid language that
manipulates, discriminates, or exaggerates. You do not hide negative information behind an
optimistic attitude, you don’t state opinions as facts, and you portray graphic data fairly. You
are honest with employers, co-workers, and clients, never seeking personal gain by making
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