Strategies Essential in Communicating with a State Legislator
An effective communicator usually has excellent chances of engaging the audience. When communicating with an elected official, it is crucial for one to introduce himself or herself first (Samovar, Porter, McDaniel, & Roy, 2015). The introduction helps the official recognize the sender of them message and the need to see him/her. It is also a courteous gesture that shows respect for the leader’s position.
It is imperative to be specific when communicating with a legislator. Such a conversation should have a topic and be straightforward for the leader to comprehend the importance of the exchange immediately (Hargie, 2016). Such people are busy and, thus, do not appreciate their time being wasted. One should also be polite to create a favorable environment for the official to listen. Indeed, the virtue creates an excellent first impression that endears the receipient of a message to the sender. It also reduces the chances for arguments and conversations spiraling out of control (Thurman, 2018).
A meeting with a legislator requires patience and respectfulness for effective interaction and communication. Patience helps one to listen and respond respectfully. Other important features are confidence and a conversational delivery skill to keep an interactionalive. One should also prepare contact details and a short description the discussion if the matter at hand requires follow up. Details, such as eye contact, body language, and the ability to listen, are also vital to communication (Burgoon, Guerrero, & Floyd, 2016). They convince the receipient of a message that it is essential. The donts of such an exchange are providing excessive information and facts and having a defensive attitude (Thurman, 2018). Such habits take away attention from the topic of discussion and might offset the superior.
Communication is an essential part of the society. One needs to consider context for the communication process to be successful. For example, the rank of the reciver is an important facto in determining how to design messages and deliver them. A conversation with an elected official demands clarity, respect, patience, attention to detail, and preparedness.
References
Burgoon, J. K., Guerrero, L. K., & Floyd, K. (2016). Nonverbal communication. New York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286657978_Nonverbal_communication_skills
Hargie, O. (2016). Skilled interpersonal communication: Research, theory and practice. Routledge. Retrieved from:
tandfbis.s3.amazonaws.com/rt-media/pp/common/sample…/9780415432047.pdf
Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., McDaniel, E. R., & Roy, C. S. (2015). Communication between cultures. Toronto, ON: Nelson Education. Retrieved from:
https://www.utalenta.com/gallery/11305-communication-between-cultures-pdf-yeal.pdf
Thurman, N. (2018). Mixed methods communication research: Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches in the study of online journalism. SAGE Research Methods Cases, doi: 10.4135/9781526428431. Retrieved from: http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/16652/1/authors%20accepted%20ms%20thurman%209_2_17.pdf