Prof offers basic lessons on communications to gahmen when talking to citizens

[Confuseous]

Communication


COMMUNICATION is critical for policy. Over the past year, the quantity of public engagement exercises has increased significantly while the quality is harder to assess. Effective communication is also critical for integration.

A powerful feature of communication is the use of labels to categorise, describe and summarise people's attitudes and their expressions.

Take for example the use of the label 'anti-foreigner' to describe what Singaporeans should not be and the sentiments that they should not possess or exhibit. If the label refers to a stereotypical, irrational and unjustified strong opposition towards foreigners, then most Singaporeans are certainly not anti-foreigner.

If we fail to acknowledge their concerns and the issues underlying their angst, then using labels such as 'anti-foreigner' and 'xenophobic' may actually contribute to producing such sentiments in more Singaporeans. We need fairer descriptions of foreigners, but also fairer descriptions of Singaporeans.

Communication on integration issues, especially in management of adverse cases, should be proactive, prompt and practical, not patronising, preachy or provocative.

The style and not just substance of communication affects whether Singaporeans view the communicator as principled and adaptive, or proud and arrogant. The former type of communicator, but not the latter, will be effective in explaining, persuading, motivating and influencing people.

Communication needs to first address Singaporeans' belief that some policies fail citizens and their feelings that citizens are unfairly treated. Failing to do so will reinforce the perception that policymakers are not connected to the ground and do not care.

DAVID CHAN
Director, Behavioural Sciences Institute &
Professor of Psychology at SMU

 

[Confuseous]

Prof critiques MIWs' communications approach to citizens

COMMUNICATION is critical for policy. Over the past year, the quantity of public engagement exercises has increased significantly while the quality is harder to assess. Effective communication is also critical for integration.

A powerful feature of communication is the use of labels to categorise, describe and summarise people's attitudes and their expressions.

Take for example the use of the label 'anti-foreigner' to describe what Singaporeans should not be and the sentiments that they should not possess or exhibit. If the label refers to a stereotypical, irrational and unjustified strong opposition towards foreigners, then most Singaporeans are certainly not anti-foreigner.

If we fail to acknowledge their concerns and the issues underlying their angst, then using labels such as 'anti-foreigner' and 'xenophobic' may actually contribute to producing such sentiments in more Singaporeans. We need fairer descriptions of foreigners, but also fairer descriptions of Singaporeans.

Communication on integration issues, especially in management of adverse cases, should be proactive, prompt and practical, not patronising, preachy or provocative.

The style and not just substance of communication affects whether Singaporeans view the communicator as principled and adaptive, or proud and arrogant. The former type of communicator, but not the latter, will be effective in explaining, persuading, motivating and influencing people.

Communication needs to first address Singaporeans' belief that some policies fail citizens and their feelings that citizens are unfairly treated. Failing to do so will reinforce the perception that policymakers are not connected to the ground and do not care.

DAVID CHAN
Director of Behaviourial Sciences Institute
Professor of Psychology, SMU

(from article on Integration in ST 16-6-12)

 

[I_Hate_Pappies]

Communication needs to first address Singaporeans' belief that some policies fail citizens and their feelings that citizens are unfairly treated. Failing to do so will reinforce the perception that policymakers are not connected to the ground and do not care.

This is where the PAPpies failed badly, of cos thanks to the help of those porlumpar PAPpies dogs. We have quite of number of them here in SBF.

 

[Confuseous]

Prof: gahmen should not be afraid of u-turning on wrong policies

SINGAPOREANS need to see that policies primarily serve citizen well-being. They need to actually experience positive outcomes from the policies.

If citizens think that policy intent, content or outcome favours foreigners over Singaporeans, then efforts to integrate are unlikely to succeed as Singaporeans will view them as attempts to benefit foreigners or serve interests other than theirs.

Having citizens at the centre of policies by no means implies that we are inward-looking, exclusive, xenophobic or ignorant of a globalising world. Policies touted as 'pro-Singaporean', when poorly construed and executed, create unrealistic expectations among Singaporeans and can lead to more local-foreigner tensions.

Benefits for foreigners are fine, so long as locals can also see clear and positive effects for citizens. 'Singaporeans first' policies should be construed not as discriminatory practices against foreigners but as policies that foreigners can appreciate. More foreigners would aspire to citizenship if we are citizen-centric.

Policies have to be citizen-centric at formulation, implementation and when revised as needed.

Both Government and people need to recognise that some policies have outlived their usefulness and some are in fact mistaken. Course corrections and U-turns in these policies are not only acceptable but necessary.

DAVID CHAN
Director, Behavioural Sciences Institute
Professor of Psychology, SMU

 

[Confuseous]

Prof: Gahmen unable to distinguish being 'populist' and 'popular' on FT issue

Clarifying priorities is also important in managing inflows of foreigners. We should tighten and calibrate the inflow but also give higher priority to quality. The potential to integrate should not be based on ethnicity per se. The violation of acceptable behaviours is a critical factor influencing integration.

Finally, strategic approaches to policy must address people's perceptions because they influence how people think, feel and behave. This is not to say policymakers should be populist, but it does not mean you need to be unpopular. And never dismiss or trivialise the ongoing emotions over population and integration. The emotions need to be understood and addressed sensitively and holistically. It is a grave mistake to treat emotional responses as short-term obstacles to be cleared for long-term goals related to macro issues such as age-dependency ratios or economic and productivity growth.

The ongoing concerns involving emotions are fundamental and part of the well-being issues relevant to both current and future interests of people and society.

Economic growth and age-dependency ratios are important, but they are means en route to the societal end goals. If we do well in these goals, they contribute positively to economic growth and ageing issues and so we get a positive spiral, which broadens and builds.

DAVID CHAN
Director, Behavioural Sciences Institute
Professor of Pyschology, SMU

 

[tanakow]

Re: Prof: gahmen should not be afraid of u-turning on wrong policies

Ya. For example, the parent can cliam the "NSman parent reliefs" only if the parent has not claim the "NSman self relief". Every Singapore parent has already served NS so cannot claim this "NSman parent reliefs" as the parent would have claimed the "NSman self relief". Only the first generation PR can claim this "NSman parent reliefs" as they don't server NS; only their son do. Bloody farkup policy.

 

[laksaboy]

Re: Prof: gahmen should not be afraid of u-turning on wrong policies

U-turning on policies that are right for their pockets?

No chance in hell that's going to happen.

You may see a little wayang and empty 'Singaporeans come first' rhetoric talk just before the elections, but it'll still be business as usual.

 

[myfoot123]

Re: Prof: gahmen should not be afraid of u-turning on wrong policies

While other countries are debating how to protect their own citizens, Singapore is the only country on earth debating about how to protect foreigners and you know what, most such pro-foreigners articles were either writen by foreigners, PR or PAP stooges aka SME boss. You think they have logic? read between the lines and the light is clear with an agenda.

 

[zhihau]

Re: Prof: gahmen should not be afraid of u-turning on wrong policies

that's why me say, vote against any pro alien party

 

[Fook Seng]

The more you deny making a mistake, the more it seems that you are not able to recover from the mistake and this is very bad PR.