Too many people who work for government are not up to the task of interacting with the public. At minimum they need customer service training. At higher levels, they need to be proficient in public debate, public speaking and dealing with the press.
Require Communication Skills Training
Tags: communication
Comments (3)
I agree that public officials like most of us, can benefit from training "communication." And I think that such training and what it means to be skilled in communication goes well beyond the list of forms of communication that the idea includes. I would put forms of dialogic communication on the top of the list so that those in government and elsewhere are first invited to understand communication as a back and forth process. Otherwise this important idea seems very unlikely contribute to open government and public engagement.
Business Communication 101 from the local community college should be required training for all government employees and elected officials, among other government and ethics classes.
Recent interactions on this site provide evidence that for increased transparency, participation and collaboration with the government all of us need extensive training in communications. Having participated in a variety of trainings I have experienced the difficulty of communicating an idea or feeling in an emotionally volatile environment in a way that the other can hear. This training would fit well with anti bullying training beginning in preschool.