Good Policy Communication Essay Example

Communication plan defines what my information intends to achieve from its audience (McKenna, 2014). Therefore one is supposed to have some vital communication skills required for effective communication of the policy. For instance the major objective of the policy to be communicated is meant to promote breastfeeding among the low income mothers. To achieve the best results it is therefore important to identify the objective, the communication tools needed and the target audience. Therefore there is need for good planning on the information to be promoted and best ways to deliver the message. In this planning process it is also important to consider the team that responsible for creating and controlling the information, the period to be communicated and best record maintenance (Fielding, 2015).
Therefore communication skills that are vital in the planning to implement the policy meant to promote and encourage breastfeeding initiation and its duration involve the following; First step is creating an on-going program to communicate the policy. This means that the planning and implementation should not be a single event. Therefore it is important to enroll each of the intervention and promote it within the health facility and more so convince the board that the intervention will promote breastfeeding among the low income mothers. The next important communication skill is selecting distribution that best matches to the information that each group requires. This involves making sure that all stakeholders are reached and supplied with the information they require (Braman, 2013). Such individuals involve the nurses and other health professionals and the board of directors and the mothers and community as a whole. This will create acceptance of breastfeeding as a feeding process. It is also important to ensure that within the policy behavior changes required are well illustrated which for this case is breastfeeding. Therefore the way it is communicated it should meet the health care needs.
The next skill is using the best tone and language. The best method to apply at this point is interactive approach where the major focus will be to convince the board and the health professionals that the intervention will promote breastfeeding among low income mother and that health care of children will be good. Also more important is to be a good communicator and listener. The next important skills involve having some good technological knowledge. This will help to create priority system for message concerning the policy. This involves use desktop alerts reminding the health professionals on importance of breastfeeding and its needs to promote its culture. Another important skill is the use of engaging techniques to get attention of the board and the all the health practitioners. For instance use of Emails can be a very poor way of communicating the policy guidelines (Iosifidis, 2011). Since is due to the fact that staffs and members of the board receive a lot of messages and they could choose to ignore it. Visual communication by use of screen can be an effective way to achieve attention and educate the staff and members of the board on the policy. During this time it is important to inform them on consequences if breastfeeding is not encouraged to both the child and mother.
The next important skill in the implementation of the policy is introduction of participation components into the policy communication by the ensuring that the members of the board and the members of staff say and offer feedback on level of effectiveness of the policy and inject better ways to improve it. This will assist the policies to more flexible and embrace the changing environment. The next and most vital skill is selecting the best communication channels to reach out to the different stakeholders and specifically the executive director, Mathew Hudson. For instance, at the initial stages best method is use of screensavers to offer the information on the various breastfeeding interventions. Later this can be reinforced by use of newsletters, desk top news feed, desk top alerts and screensaver messaging informing the target audience on the risks of poor breastfeeding habits.

Part, B

Electronic communication is a type of communication used to transmit information, images and signs through photo-optical system. This form of communication is very effective and has a lot of advantages which includes cost effectiveness and convenience. Despite the large number of advantages, it has its disadvantages such invading privacy and also cut ones relaxation time or even loss of information (Janoschka, 2012).
Electronic communication comprises the different social networking websites such email, instant messaging, test messaging and voice mails among others. This enhancement in information technology has altered the way people communicate towards each other. Therefore, important skills required while implementing the policy using electronic communication is to understand the strength and weakness of each of the different forms (Iosifidis, 2011). This will help know how effective a specific technique will be effective.
Important issue to take into consideration is the medium to transfer the information. For instance to effectively transfer information to a large mass electronically, email is the best. Additionally electronic communication emphasizes on clarity. For instance, in this policy the major subject for an email will be breastfeeding email. It is therefore an important skill to identify weaknesses associated to electronic communication. For instance it lacks communication support since its cut person to person communication. Such important elements s as verbal non-verbal cues and tone lacks. It is therefore important to put thought into the message to communicate, which in this case is breastfeeding intervention (Whitten & Cook, 2013).

References

Braman, S. (2013). Communication researchers and policy-making. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
Fielding, R. (2015). Clinical communication skills. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
Iosifidis, P. (2011). Global media and communication policy. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Janoschka, A. (2012). Web advertising: New forms of communication on the Internet. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Pub.
McKenna, C. (2014). Powerful communication skills: How to communicate with confidence. Franklin Lakes, N.J: Career Press.
Whitten, P., & Cook, D. (2013). Understanding health communication technologies. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.