Communication

Leaders and communicationAs a leader, you need good communication skills

• By communicating effectively, you and your staff will be able to share experiences and have the same understanding about various issues.

• To achieve this there must be two way open and mature interaction between you and your sub-ordinates and colleagues.

• In this way you will be able to solve any confusion and differences, without causing any long lasting ill feelings

What is communicationFrom Module 3. District Health Management Team

Training. Managing Human Resources. World Health Organization 2004.

• Process of relaying messages / information in such a way that it is effective and resulting in a response.

• Poor relationships can be made much worse by poor communication

• Good and effective communication promotes teamwork

• All communication should be clear – whether oral or written.

• Conflicts are common and they should be resolved in a way that will achieve results

The characteristics of the communication process• Communication involves people - you have to try and

understand people

• Communication involves shared meaning - agree on definition of terms

• Communication can be through gestures, sounds, signals, letters, numbers, charts, graphs and words

Causes of poor interpersonal communication

• Poor appearance

• Strong emotions

• Prejudice / bias

• Jumping to conclusions

• Stereotyping

• Differences in perception

• Lack of fundamental knowledge

• Lack of interest

• Use of vague or technical knowledge

• Faulty communication lines

• Too many assumptions being made by the receiver

• Un-conducive environment

Types of communication flow

• Downward communication

• Upward communication

• Horizontal communication

Downward communication

• Most frequent type of communication

• Often misused, especially if no upward communication – always need feedback on your downward communication

Upward communication

• Enhances sharing of opinions and experiences

• Usually allows decision making and engages people in planning and implementation

Horizontal communication

• Usually relates to coordination, information sharing, conflict resolution

• Also collaboration, networking.

How to minimise communication barriers

• Use different communication systems – both informal and formal.

• Feedback– What does the sender want to know?– What are the essential elements to be included– What action do you want to influence which the

person should take?