Bulletin No. 3 | May – June 2001

COMMUNICATION

Public Speaking

How to deal with difficult audience

Dealing with different people is an art, dealing with a difficult audience is a real challenge.
Before you make a presentation, you need to know some strategy on how to face your audience. Try to understand the type and apply these tips:

• Positive type
  This type is a great help in your discussion, use them frequently
  
• Talkative type
  Intervene tactfully and limit their speaking time
  
• Persistent type
  Avoid the trap, never get involved in an argument. Respond tactfully
  
• Arrogant type
  Let the audience deal with their theories and viewpoints
  Review them and answer the questions gently
  
• Uncooperative type
  Recognize their knowledge and experience, use them wherever possible
  
• Intellectually superior type
  Listen and consider, but do not criticize. Use Yes But technique

You can be an effective speaker if you care for your : Appearance, Posture, Gestures, Eye Contact and Facial Expressions because experts say that we gather information by Sight (87%), Hearing (7%), Smell (3,5%), Touch (1,5%), Taste (1%)

Source :
The Art of Effective Communication, Charles J. Margerison

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PUBLIC RELATIONS

Many young people enter public relations careers without really knowing what public relations is and does.
The following are ordinary comments when they are asked.

• I like people, i like to communicate with many different and prominent people
• I like to appear in public, that makes me popular
• I like camera, tv, all broadcasting – that’s exciting
• I like to serve and entertain other people

There is nothing wrong with their expressions, but if you really want to pursue your career in public relations you had better prepare yourself academically and professionally. That is the best way to do it unless you add more problem images to the public relations profession in Indonesia.

1. Ask yourself if you are a good communicator. Can you communicate well with others orally and in writing? Can you speak and write easily?
2. Be honest to yourself : Do you have the ability to be the agent of change? Do you have the power to influence people? Do they listen to you?
3. Do you know the essentials of public relations?

Here are some basic requirements for success in public relations (Cutlip, 2000)

• Skill – skills for producing effective writing and persuasive speaking
• Knowledge – in depth knowledge of various media, the understanding of management process
• Abilities – problem solving, decision making. Ability to handle people and generate confidence. Assume responsibility
• Qualities – work with common sense, emotional stability. You should have drive and enthusiasm, a wide range of interest and intellectual curiosity, be tolerant of frustration and a good listener.

Basically, public relations practitioners should possess a combination of these knowledge, abilities and skill on how to communicate, organize, get on with people, personal integrity, imagination and style.

Contact the Editor on email : ananto@indosat.net.id for online free personal consultation on pursuing careers in public relations. Email will be answered to those who give name, position and complete address.

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MARKETING

Personal networking:
A direct marketing technique.

It is accepted as the most effective of the job search methods. Many job seekers and others who are looking for opportunities are using this method. Experts advise targeting to focus on the best probable sources of job leads. They no longer recommend ‘stranger’ as a prospective candidate until he or she has a special track record.

The old rules of networking emphasize that

1. Everybody is a potential network member
2. Always be ready to network instantly
3. Keep records on everyone you meet
4. Put a tickler on your records
5. Stay in touch with everybody

Today, people recognize that old rules are no longer effective, they can do little to help you ‘STAY IN DEMAND’. Most networks end up as little more than piles of business cards with never ending commitment.


Networks now need to be managed by new rules:

• View your network as a long term commitment
• Carefully pick network members who can help you and whom you can help
• Build quality relationships, not quantity contacts.
• Produce results for your network members and let them know how to produce results for you.
• Start your network through friends, family and others who know you and who will actively help.

Source:
Staying in Demand, C.D. Peterson

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HUMAN RESOURCE

In the recent report on the international human resource management, the need for education and communication has added to another facet to change management. In a research of ten countries the project team found out that training in communicating with staff is widespread, reflecting the importance of the subject.
So far, however, managers continue to prove reluctant to communicate with employees on financial and strategic issues.

According to the report:

• Managers seem to concentrate on feeding themselves and each other with information, neglecting the important task of taking their staff and organization with them’.

Communication skills are still seen as a soft management by practicing managers, particularly in manufacturing, and they are not given sufficient attention in programs of management education and development.

Yet, the ability to communicate and to develop an understanding of how communication can help achieve objectives, are both key management skills, some examples:

• Sense-making
• Listening skills
• Presentation skills
• Media skills
• Self awareness and empathy

Communication is not simply a matter of passing information, but is more concerned with the transference of understanding. Managers have not been found particularly willing or skillful in this task.

Source:
IC’s role in competitiveness and innovation, Jon White

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