Reading Summary of the Chapter
A topic that is of great interest to many young individuals is effective communication. I concur with the author on his view that communication helps organizations meet their objectives.
He adds that the importance of good communication increases with the rank of the individual in the organization. The ability to convey messages, instructions and information aimed at inducing the desired results and/or effect should not be undermined in any organization. Top ranking officials in any organization are therefore expected to accord greatest importance to effective communication skills than all other personnel in their institutions. One of these skills is writing. This as the author perceives, is not only a powerful and convenient tool at conveying information it is a reliable method of recording that information.
When used appropriately, it is classified as good writing. As suggested, good writing must meet several requirements. Firstly, it must be clear. The written document must relay the message expressly without creating confusion as to what is required. It must be complete. It must be correct, that is, it should not be false and should not misrepresent.
It saves reader’s time. It should therefore be legible and concise. Finally, it fosters goodwill and trust. The author breaks down all the possible purposes of business and administrative communication into three broad classes. These are; informing, requesting, persuading and creating goodwill. They are the core reasons for communication.
An individual’s success may be enhanced and improved with this classification in mind. I believe it is requisite for all individuals in business to equip themselves with good communication skills. One should carefully consider what is dependent on the effect of each particular communication. The channels used, content and the presentation of each message can also affect the effectiveness of communication. An appreciation and consistent practice of these factors strengthen an individual’s capabilities at organizing, coordinating and directing his/her colleagues.
