NCJ Number
7832
Date Published
1972
Length
7 pages
Annotation
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN GIVING INSTRUCTIONS, AND PRACTICES TO BE AVOIDED, WITH SUGGESTED METHODS FOR MOST EFFECTIVE EXPRESSION.
Abstract
GIVING ORDERS TO SUBORDINATES IS A SIMPLE MATTER, COMMUNICATING ORDERS IN LANGUAGE TO INSURE DESIRED RESULTS IS ANOTHER MATTER. THE AUTHOR OF THIS WORK NOTES THAT THE 500 MOST COMMONLY USED ENGLISH WORDS HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 28 MEANINGS PER WORD. INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THESE MEANINGS NATURALLY EVOKE DIFFERENT RESPONSES. OTHER PITFALLS THAT SURROUND COMMUNICATIONS ARE MENTIONED SUCH AS THE INADVERTENT USE OF SARCASM, OR MESSAGES DELIVERED IN A STATE OF FATIGUE OR ANGER. THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSION EVERYDAY EXAMPLES ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE AUTHOR'S POINTS. PRE-PLANNING OF ORDERS IS SUGGESTED, AS WELL AS THE HABIT OF FOLLOW-UP TO INSURE THAT INSTRUCTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS. THE AUTHOR FAVORS DIRECTIVES THAT ARE CLEAR AND DISTINCT AND LIE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE DIRECT COMMAND AT ONE EXTREME AND THE WEAK REQUEST AT THE OTHER. THE WORK CONCLUDES THAT TIME APPLIED TO EFFECTIVE VERBAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS PAYS OFF WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND MORALE. (SNI ABSTRACT)