Communication

 The development of communication and the emergence of social media, there have been huge technological improvements that have changed the way information is collected and transmitted on both a micro and macro scale. Social media, be it Twitter, Facebook, Linked-In, Instagram, Pinterest... the list goes on, has revolutionized the way we communicate.

In the public sector, social media plays a key role in the way messages are delivered, but messages need to be accurate, clear and consistent across the organization.

We live in a 24/7/365 society. The faster the better? If you read it on the internet, it must be true. Any information is better than no information or is it? Get the message out as as possible, especially during an emergency, timing is everything. How many times have you read an online article with grammatical or factual errors? The use of social media must be planned and implemented throughout the organization for its intended purposes, otherwise it will be counterproductive, ineffective, harmful and, in extreme cases, can create public doubt, fear and mistrust.

It used to be think before you speak, say what you mean and mean what you say, but now it's read and re-read, take your time and read and re-read before you hit send. The evolution of communication, which provides the opportunity to send data and messages to large audiences, is a powerful tool, but instant misinformation cannot and should not replace accurate information. There must be an appropriate balance between the timing, quantity and quality of messages and information.

This development of high-tech communication is also somewhat paradoxical in that the speed and number of people to whom a message can be communicated at once should give pause and encourage public sector workers to be judicious about what is said and how it can be said. interpreted. Remember, this isn't Las Vegas - anything you say or do, especially in a public forum or forum, can be judged and scrutinized by a large audience in the time it takes to send a tweet or post a photo or video on the Internet.

Text chat or face to face meeting???

Which do you prefer? Colin Powell, military leader and statesman said, "The day your soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stop leading them. Either they've lost confidence that you can help them, or they've concluded that you don't care. Failure knowledge." in the importance of face-to-face meetings; The benefit(s) of one-on-one communication and/or traditional public forums cannot be overstated or underestimated.

In the public sector there is something I call the "Fishbowl Effect". Politics, media, public scrutiny, transparency and accountability all contribute to the "Fishbowl Effect", which is this: if you work in the public sector, you should be held to a higher standard. Your actions speak louder than words and perception is reality. Why?

Communicating a clear and consistent message

George Seldes in 1942 in his weekly newsletter In Fact, Inc. entitled: The Facts Are...: A Guide to Falsehood and Propaganda in the Press and Radio, he wrote about the power and corruption of the press because of its close association with special interests. He stated, "What is the most powerful force in America today? Answer: public opinion. What is public opinion? Answer: the press is the main force." Does it still apply today?

I would argue that public opinion is as or more important today than it was in 1942. Whether it is the "press", another medium, or an internet troll, our society is bombarded with information, news and editorials. So, need to, especially in the public sector, that these transfers of information are clear, timely, accurate and provide a consistent message.

Throughout history and up to the present, the media have and always will, through any medium, convey news, events and other forms of information to a wide audience – the general public. While communication evolved from oral tradition to the written word sent via The Pony Express, over telegraph wires and fiber optic networks, the media and the power of public opinion remained constant and omnipresent. The only difference is the speed of sending and receiving messages.

Think of the public leaders throughout history who have embraced the media and used it as a resource most . They are also referred to by many as some of the most charismatic people in history.