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MORE IDEAS ON
PEOPLE'S
COMMUNICATION
To exchange
suggestions and
experiences,
let´s look into
a few
communication
problems which
are quite common
among people:
Question:
" What does a
full-time
homemaker do,
when she has
small children
but would like
to be well
informed,
despite the fact
she cannot
afford the hours
and fees for
college evening
courses? "
Suggestion:
At every
opportunity,
grab a newspaper
or other
periodical,
since they cover
more updated
subjects than a
book and, in
general, require
less reading
concentration.
Finding yourself
busy almost all
the time means
you’ll not watch
much TV, though
you can always
listen to the
radio or, even,
sometimes, to
the TV sound.
Once in a while,
if you can or if
you feel you
need, do watch
TV for a few
minutes. Also,
keep in mind
that radio
broadcasting is
your best choice,
when your eyes
and hands have
many things to
attend to and
you are moving
from one spot to
the other. No
time to sit down?
Never mind, just
turn on the
radio! This
talkative
reporter offers
another
advantage: a
minimum
consumption of
energy.
Question:
"I am worried
about one of my
high school
assignments – an
oral and written
presentation. To
be honest, I
consider myself
a disaster, with
my constant
inability to
communicate in a
group. I find it
hard to keep the
class interested
in whatever I am
saying. How I
wish time would
fly, but it
doesn’t. To use
up my time,
should I try to
include as many
audiovisual
materials as I
can possibly get?
"
Suggestion:
Yes, provided
they do relate
to the subject.
Tapes, films and
slides, as well
as records and
photographs,
will most
certainly enrich
your
presentation. To
include them in
a careless way,
just to fill up
the time, will
show poor taste
and judgment,
creating
negative results.
In case you are
allowed to
choose between
making a speech
or writing on
the subject,
judge yourself
carefully,
remembering your
strong and weak
points. We are
always
communicating.
Whether we do it
successfully or
poorly, the
result means we
either
effectively
convey the
message, as we
should, or
project our
personal
inadequacy. For
you, are there
more advantages
in speaking? Or
you may decide
you have a
chance to
improve. In this
case, accept the
challenge to
present your
work in front of
an audience. And
good luck!
Question:
"I was recently
elected the
president of a
community
organization. My
predecessor used
to take every
opportunity to
speak on the
association,
thus succeeding
in rallying much
support,
increasing
membership, etc.
I do have many
years of
experience as a
member of the
board and I look
forward to my
new
responsibilities.
But, unlike the
former president,
I am no
outstanding
speech maker.
Nevertheless, I
do know someone
whom I could
persuade to go
to special
meetings with me
and do the
public speaking
on my behalf.
While I would
just be an
average lecturer,
she certainly
knows how to
attract, touch
and lead an
audience. Of
course, I would
prefer to
possess the
ability to make
the speeches
myself … Would
my decision to
delegate the
speaking
engagements to
someone else
cause any
misunderstanding?"
Suggestion:
Not really. You
are wise in
delegating the
speeches to
someone else and
people will
admire your
mature
self-criticism.
Unless you
belonged to a
public speakers’
association, the
position as
president of a
community
organization
means much more
than speeches.
You were chosen
on the basis of
your service
record. Do what
you know best
and you’ll be
fulfilling your
obligations.
Congratulations!
Question:
"I decided on a
career in the
field of
scientific
research. A
friend called my
attention to the
difficulty in
conciliating
such a
profession with
a successful
marriage. He
said: - Just
resign yourself
to being a
bachelor for
life. Was he
joking?"
Suggestion:
Maybe so.
However, this is
not always true.
The fact is:
good
communication
makes a good
relationship.
Alexander Bell
and Ottmar
Mergenthaler –
inventors who
greatly
contributed to
advance
communications
technology –
enjoyed long
lasting, happy
marriages. Both
wives, far from
being an
obstacle, were a
source of
constant
inspiration and
encouragement to
the spouse.
Theresa
Catharina de
Góes Campos
St. Paul´s
University -
Ottawa, Ontario
- Canada (October
1971)
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