"You don't need to be a great communicator to promote popular policies" said Singapore Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan when opening the annual Government Communications Conference in Singapore this week.
It's a annual gathering of the top communicators in Singapore's public service and an eclectic mix of speakers (including me) were brought to The Grand Hyatt hotel for an intensive day of reflection and discussion. The Minister's presence underlined the importance the Government places on communications. He said that the real challenge comes when communicators are required to explain significant and complex change to the public, such as healthcare reforms undertaken in the country.
Here are some of the top quotes that I managed to capture (there were so many I couldn't write quick enough).
Minister Khaw was formerly the Minister for Health and handled the SARS outbreak. His golden rules from the crisis were: :Be transparent, honest, nothing hidden even if it is painful for the public to know, no secrets - let the arguments dictate the policy not the other way round; do not over-reassure, it's OK to say I don't know yet and never pretend to know; always show empathy and care and it's OK to admit worry; trust and credibility are key to crisis leadership."
Karen Hughes, Global Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller and Former US Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy & Public Affairs and Counsellor at the White House to President Bush:
"Define yourself or you will be defined by somebody else. Probably your critics."
"Effective decision making involves strategic communication. The President is the Chief Communications Officer".
"The 5 C's of effective communication are clarity, conviction, compassion, consistency and credibility".
"You don't have to be the wittiest to be a great communicator, but you do have to be the clearest".
"If clarity is say what you mean, conviction is mean what you say. A credible message is not just what you say, it's what you do."
Koh Buck Song, author and CEO of Integrative CSR Consulting:
"Saying 'It's not in my job description' is not in your job description!"
"Brand keloids happen (that is, incidents that scar your reputation). You should not try to change them. They happened. They are there. Leave them alone and after time people will stop noticing them and see the real you."
Rodrigo Becerro Mizuno, MD, Government Industry Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft:
"Generation Y are now talking about having a quarter life crisis".
Karen Hughes is the author of "10 Minutes From Normal" and Koh Buck Song's books include his latest "Brand Singapore".
(Posted from Singapore)
Minister Khaw
It's a annual gathering of the top communicators in Singapore's public service and an eclectic mix of speakers (including me) were brought to The Grand Hyatt hotel for an intensive day of reflection and discussion. The Minister's presence underlined the importance the Government places on communications. He said that the real challenge comes when communicators are required to explain significant and complex change to the public, such as healthcare reforms undertaken in the country.
Here are some of the top quotes that I managed to capture (there were so many I couldn't write quick enough).
Minister Khaw was formerly the Minister for Health and handled the SARS outbreak. His golden rules from the crisis were: :Be transparent, honest, nothing hidden even if it is painful for the public to know, no secrets - let the arguments dictate the policy not the other way round; do not over-reassure, it's OK to say I don't know yet and never pretend to know; always show empathy and care and it's OK to admit worry; trust and credibility are key to crisis leadership."
Karen Hughes, Global Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller and Former US Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy & Public Affairs and Counsellor at the White House to President Bush:
Karen Hughes
"Define yourself or you will be defined by somebody else. Probably your critics."
"Effective decision making involves strategic communication. The President is the Chief Communications Officer".
"The 5 C's of effective communication are clarity, conviction, compassion, consistency and credibility".
"You don't have to be the wittiest to be a great communicator, but you do have to be the clearest".
"If clarity is say what you mean, conviction is mean what you say. A credible message is not just what you say, it's what you do."
Koh Buck Song, author and CEO of Integrative CSR Consulting:
Koh Buck Song
"Saying 'It's not in my job description' is not in your job description!"
"Brand keloids happen (that is, incidents that scar your reputation). You should not try to change them. They happened. They are there. Leave them alone and after time people will stop noticing them and see the real you."
Rodrigo Becerro Mizuno, MD, Government Industry Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft:
Rodrigo Becerra Mizuno
"Generation Y are now talking about having a quarter life crisis".
Karen Hughes is the author of "10 Minutes From Normal" and Koh Buck Song's books include his latest "Brand Singapore".
(Posted from Singapore)
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