Paroki Santa Odilia - Citra Raya

Rapat Pengurus Lingkungan Santa Anna 17 Agustus 2010

2010-08-17T03:02:00.001-07:00

rapat dengan khidmat..........

Ketua Lingkungan Baru : Marcelinus Arkian

RENUNGAN SELASA 17 AGUSTUS 2010

2010-08-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

Sir 10:1-8
1 Ptr 2 :13-17

Matius 22:15-21

SEKALI MERDEKA TETAP MERDEKA

"Pemerintahan beralih dari bangsa yang satu kepada bangsa yang lain, akibat kelaliman, kekerasan dan uang" (Sirakh 10:8)

Doa : "Bapa, jadikanlah aku warga negara sejati dan umat Kristiani tulen"

Renungan Senin, 16 Agustus 2010

2010-08-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

Yeh 24:15-24

Ul 32:18-21

Mat 19:16-22

Tema : Menangislah

"Hai anak manusia, lihat, Aku hendak mengambil daripadamu dia yang sangat kaucintai seperti yang kena tulah, tetapi janganlah meratap ataupun menangis dan janganlah mengeluarkan air mata" (Yehezkiel 24:16)

Doa : Yesus, engkau berkata kasih kebanyakan orang akan menjadi dingin (Mat 24:12)

Selamat Bekerja Pengurus Baru

2010-08-15T03:53:00.000-07:00

SUSUNAN PENGURUS LINGKUNGAN SANTA ANNA – BALARAJA
PERIODE 2010 – 2013

Ketua Lingkungan : Marcelinus Arkian
Wakil Ketua Lingkungan : YB. Yohanes Didik
Sekretaris : Petrus Kanisius Warsito
Bendahara : Gomidas Hale Oni
Komunikasi dan
Harta Lingkungan : Cyrilus Simuhuri (Koordinator)
- Yustinus Surono
- Christina Subandiyah
- Ignatius Martinus Kristianto
- Markus Paryono
- L. Situmorang
Kerasulan Keluarga : YB. Yohanes Didik (Koordinator)
- Stevanus Ruswidijoko
- Gomidas Hale Oni
Sosial Ekonomi : Stefani Sri Sulastri (Koordinator)
- Maria Monica Serida Sandra N.
- Maria Yeni Rita M.
- Paulinus Wibowo
- Lucia Suci M.
Liturgi : Petrus K. Warsito (Koordinator)
- Maria Gorreti Beti Yuli W.
- Yuliana Sri Sunarti
- Rusmiyati
- Anastasia Suminah
- Rusmega Sinaga
- Marcelinus A.
Pewartaan & Kitab Suci : Yusuf Sulistiyo (Koordinator)
- Veronika Rebinem
- Marcelinus A.
Bina Iman Anak & Remaja : Christina Sri Datin (Koordinator)
- Maria Christina Rawit Murdiana
- Maria Goreti Sutarti
- Fransisca Sutilah
- Christina Ruwi Astuti
- Yovita Susi Pramudani
- Rosalina Kasanah
Santo Yusuf : Tarsicius Triyana (Koordinator)
- Aloysius Budianto
- Yanuarius Dwi Ruswidiyanto
- Pius Sain Widodo
- Fx. Herry Prihono
- Fx. Subekti

MARI KITA BANGKIT DAN BERGANDENG TANGAN
DALAM MELAYANI TUHAN DENGAN SEPENUH HATI

Pertandingan Futsal Di Don Bosco

2010-08-01T03:21:00.000-07:00

Ekaristi dengan Khidmat

2010-07-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

Merayakan Ekaristi dengan Khidmat
Oleh: F.X. Didik Bagiyowinadi,Pr
sumber : http://imankatolik.or.id/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=49

Perayaan yang Luhur
Perayaan
Ekaristi adalah perayaan luhur yang diwariskan Kristus kepada kita.
Sejak Gereja Perdana, umat Kristen senantiasa bertekun “memecahkan
roti” (Kis 2:42.46) untuk mengenang sengsara, wafat, dan kebangkitan
Kristus. Sekaligus dalam Ekaristi ini kita menantikan kedatangan-Nya
yang mulia pada akhir zaman (bdk. 1 Kor 11:26). Dalam perayaan Ekaristi
kita menyanyikan anamnesis setelah konsekrasi untuk mengenang
sengsara-wafat dan kebangkitan Kristus serta menantikan kedatangan-Nya
kedua kali.
Perayaan Ekaristi juga merupakan perayaan luhur dan
penting karena melalui Ekaristi kita menerima “paket lengkap” kehadiran
Tuhan (SC 7), yakni melalui:
[•] Umat yang berhimpun dalam nama-Nya,
[•] Imam, pemimpin perayaan Ekaristi, yang bertindak dalam nama Yesus,
[•] Kitab Suci yang diwartakan,
[•] Tubuh (dan Darah) Kristus yang kita sambut dalam komuni.
Perayaan Bersama Yang Sakral
Dalam
Ekaristi Kudus, kita disatukan oleh Tuhan sendiri di sekitar altar
untuk diteguhkan oleh Firman-Nya dan makan-minum dari Tubuh dan Darah
yang satu dan sama. Kebersamaan ini secara nyata tampak dalam Komuni
kudus, dimana kita tidak hanya bersatu dengan Tuhan, tetapi juga
disatukan dengan yang lainnya. Maka peristiwa dalam perayaan Ekaristi
adalah sesuatu yang sakral.

Dalam Konstitusi Liturgi dari
Konsili Vatikan II dinyatakan, “ Umat beriman janganlah menghadiri
misteri iman sebagai orang luar atau penonton yang bisu, elainkan
sedemikian rupa sehingga melalui upacara dan doa-doa mereka memahami
misteri itu dengan baik, dan ikut serta dengan penuh khidmat dan secara
aktif. Hendaknya mereka dengan rela hati menerima pelajaran dari Sabda
Allah, disegarkan oleh santapan Tubuh Tuhan dan bersyukur kepada Allah”
(SC 48). Jadi, perayaan bersama yang sakral ini di satu pihak menuntut
keterlibatan aktif kita dalam menjawab doa, menyanyi, maupun bersikap
liturgi yang sama, tetapi di lain pihak juga menuntut kita untuk
terlibat menciptakan suasana khidmat agar kita masing-masing bisa
mengalami sentuhan Tuhan dalam perayaan ini. Konsekuensinya kita juga
harus bertoleransi dan membantu orang lain sedapat mungkin mengalami
sentuhan Tuhan dalam Ekaristi.

Waktu Hening dalam Misa Kudus
Kita tahu bahwa Misa Kudus adalah perayaan kita bersama, perayaan
seluruh umat sehingga kita semua yang hadir diminta untuk
berpartisipasi aktif dalam liturgi dengan berdiri, berlutut, berdoa,
menjawab, menyanyi, dan mendengarkan bersama (bdk. SC 48). Maka tidak
cukup bila dalam Misa Kudus kita hanya duduk-berdiri dan diam atau
sibuk berdoa rosario sendiri, atau malahan ngobrol terus tiada henti.
Tetapi yang menjadi persoalan, kapankah kita mempunyai waktu hening,
untuk berdoa secara pribadi kepada Tuhan dalam Misa Kudus, bukankah
Tuhan Yesus berkenan menjadi sahabat kita (Yoh 15:14), yang berarti
siap mendengarkan keluh-kesah dan uneg-uneg kita? Kapan kesempatan kita
bisa berdoa secara pribadi untuk menyampaikan ujud pribadi kita?

Perlunya Ujud Pribadi
Ada kalanya orang pergi ke Misa Kudus sekedar memenuhi kewajiban
sehingga merasa ogah-ogahan atau menjalaninya secara formalitas.
Situasi demikian bisa disiasati dengan membawa intensi pribadi dalam
Misa kudus, yakni ujud khusus yang kita doakan dalam Misa Kudus. Ujud
pribadi yang akan kita doakan dalam hati ini tidak hanya berkutat untuk
kepentingan diri, tetapi mesti menjangkau juga pada kesejahteraan orang
lain, entah anggota keluarga, teman-pergaulan, maupun kenalan kita. Doa
kita sangatlah berguna bagi damai sejahtera orang lain. Itulah yang
dilakukan Maria dalam pesta perkawinan di Kana (Yoh 2:1-12), keempat
orang yang menggotong temannya yang lumpuh (Mrk 2:5, melihat iman
mereka), seorang ibu Kanaan bagi kesembuhan putrinya (Mat 15:21-28),
kedua bapak yang memohonkan kesembuhan bagi anaknya (Mat 9:18-25; Mat
17:14-21), dan juga dilakukan oleh perwira Romawi di kota Kapernaum
bagi kesembuhan hambanya (Mat 8:5-13). Dan permohonan dan intense
demikian sangatlah berguna bagi mereka.

Kapan Mendoakannya?
Kesempatan
pertama, tentu pada saat sebelum dan sesudah perayaan Ekaristi dimulai.
Hal demikian memang tak bisa dilakukan oleh mereka yang biasa datang
terlambat ataupun pulang mendahului berkat penutup. Selain doa pribadi,
waktu hening sebelum misa juga bisa dimanfaatkan dengan persiapan batin
dengan membaca bacaan yang akan diwartakan.

Kedua, pada saat
hening di antara “Marilah Berdoa” dan doa pembuka yang diucapkan oleh
romo. Pada saat hening ini kita diberi kesempatan untuk menyampaikan
ujud-ujud pribadi kita dalam hati, yang kemudian dirangkum oleh romo
dengan doa pembukaan yang resmi.
Ketiga, pada waktu persembahan.
Kolekte merupakan simbol persembahan diri kita sekaligus ujud dan
permohonan kita. Itulah yang akan disatukan dengan kurban Kristus di
altar. Kurban Kristus inilah yang berkenan pada Allah Bapa.

Keempat,
sebelum dan sesudah Komuni. Yesus yang bersabda dalam bacaan Injil,
Yesus itu juga yang kita sambut dalam Komuni Kudus. Maka dalam doa
pribadi ini kita bisa menanggapi Sabda Tuhan yang baru kita dengar itu,
misalnya dengan menyampaikan niat-niat untuk menanggapi sabda Tuhan/
khotbah, mohon kekuatan untuk melaksanakan niat itu, atau menyampaikan
ujud pribadi kita tadi. Saat-saat setelah komuni merupakan kesempatan
emas bagi kita untuk lebih intens berbicara dengan Tuhan Yesus yang
telah berkenan hadir di hati kita.

Upaya Menciptakan Kekhidmatan
Secara
konkret apa yang bisa kita lakukan untuk menciptakan suasana khidmat
dalam perayaan Ekaristi? Kiranya beberapa catatan praktis dan kritis
berikut ini perlu diperhatikan:

[1]. Tidak Datang Terlambat – Pulang Cepat
Dalam
perayaan Ekaristi, selalu saja masih ada yang suka datang terlambat dan
pulang cepat. Ekaristi, dimana kita bisa mengalami kehadiran Tuhan, pun
mereka perhitungkan secara praktis dan ekonomis. Mereka yang datang
lambat dan pulang cepat ini agaknya kurang menyadari nilai kebersamaan
dengan yang lain. Sekedar memikirkan “keselamatan individual”. Begitu
sudah dapat “jatah komuni”, segera pulang duluan. Padahal, perilaku
demikian bisa mengganggu konsentrasi umat di sekitar kita, setidaknya
yang duduk sebangku dengan kita. Tentu, bukan dimaksudkan di sini,
bahwa mereka yang datang terlambat tak boleh masuk. Tetapi, sedapat
mungkin kita upayakan agar kita bisa mengikuti perayaan Ekaristi secara
utuh dari awal sampai akhir.

[2.] Pakaian yang Pantas
Pakaian
disebut pantas, manakala cocok dengan “situasi-kondisinya”. Pakaian
tidur tak selayaknya dipakai untuk menerima tamu. Baju pesta tidak
cocok kita kenakan di kolam renang. Demikian juga dengan pakaian untuk
ke gereja, kita mesti ingat, kita mau bertemu dengan siapa. Dengan
Tuhan dan umat yang lain. Maka tak bisa kita berdalih, “Peduli amat
dengan pakaian, yang terpenting kan hati saya”. Sebab di gereja kita
berdoa bersama yang lain. Pakaian kita yang terlalu nyleneh, super
ketat, “you can see”; kerap malah menjadi batu sandungan bagi yang
lain. Artinya, mereka yang duduk di sekitar kita sebenarnya sungguh mau
berdoa, tetapi lantaran menyaksikan dandanan kita yang kurang pantas,
jadinya terganggu juga: entah mencela dalam hati ataupun berpikiran
lain. Memang semua tergantung pada orangnya. Tetapi, alangkah bijak
bila kita tidak membawa orang lain jatuh dalam pencobaan. Tulis St.
Paulus, “Karena itu, janganlah kita saling menghakimi lagi! Tetapi
lebih baik kamu menganut pandangan ini: Jangan kita membuat saudara
kita jatuh atau tersandung” (Rom 14:13).

[3.] Berisik dan Ngobrol dengan Siapa?
Omong-omong
dan berisik dengan umat sebangku, apalagi sampai ngobrol, sungguh
mengganggu yang lainTerlebih selama perayaan Ekaristi sebenarnya
merupakan kesempatan emas bagi kita untuk mendengarkan firman Tuhan dan
menanggapinya dengan doa-doa kita. Kalaupun mau ngobrol, kita masih
punya waktu dan kesempatan di luar gereja setelah Misa Kudus.

[4.] HP: Saya Siap Sedia untuk Siapa?
Di
pintu masuk gereja biasanya ada peringatan agar HP dinonaktifkan agar
membantu kekhidmatan suasana perayaan Ekaristi. Namun kenyataannya,
tidak jarang terjadi selama perayaan Ekaristi berlangsung terdengar
suara HP berdendang di gereja. Apa ini artinya? HP yang selalu on -
aktif, sebenarnya menandakan kita bersiap sedia menerima panggilan dan
pesan. Sayangnya, bukan panggilan dan pesan dari Tuhan, melainkan dari
kolega dan mereka yang berada di luar gereja. Agar bisa siap sedia
mendengarkan firman Tuhan, untuk sementara kesiapsediaan kita pada
dunia luar, mesti kita non aktifkan. Tanpa itu, niscaya pikiran kita
akan terus bercabang.

[5.] Soal Klasik: Anak-Anak
Berkaitan
dengan kekhidmatan suasana perayaan Ekaristi, kerap anak-anak kecil
juga dituding sebagai penyebabnya. Memang tidak semua anak bisa duduk
tenang bersama orang tuanya. Harus ada banyak trik untuk mensiasatinya,
mulai dari memberi pengertian dari rumah, membawakan mainan,
mengajaknya keluar gereja bila menangis dan rewel, ataupun
menitipkannya di Minggu Gembira selama perayaan Ekaristi berlangsung
dan dibawa masuk kembali untuk menerima berkat di dahi pada saat
komuni. Persoalan ini juga saya singgung dalam “Membangun Religiositas
Katolik dalam Keluarga” pada buku SKP-4: Mendidik Anak secara Katolik
(Pustaka Nusatama, 2006). Harus diakui, tidaklah mudah mengatasi
persoalan anak-anak. Butuh seni tersendiri. Namun, kita harus ingat
akan peringatan Tuhan Yesus, “Biarkan anak-anak itu datang kepada-Ku,
jangan menghalang-halangi mereka, sebab oirang-orang yang seperti
itulah yang empunya Kerajaan Allah” (Mrk 10:14).
Maka kalaupun
pada saat ada anak yang rewel dan menangis dalam Gereja, hendaklah kita
memaklumi, toh orangtuanya akan segera berusaha menenangkannya. Kita
tidak melihatnya sebagai “gangguan” yang mengusik kekhususk-asyikan
kita, laiknya saat menonnton konser. Mungkin kita bisa mengingat
komentar Tuhan Yesus, saat para imam kepala dan ahli Taurat merasa
bising dan jengkel karena anak-anak dalam Bait Allah berseru “Hosana
bagi Anak Daud.” Tanya mereka, “Engkau dengar apa yang dikatakan
anak-anak ini?” Kata Yesus kepada mereka, “Au dengar; belum pernahkah
kamu baca: Dari mulut bayi-bayi dan anak-anak yang menyusu Engkau telah
menyediakan puji-pujian” (Mat 21:14-16; bdk. Mazmur 8:3). Dan mungkin
kita juga bisa memaknai kehadiran (dan risikonya kerewelan) anak-anak
dalam Gereja sebagai hal yang patut disyukuri sebab mereka inilah masa
depan Gereja kekal dan syukur bahwa sejak dini mereka telah dibiasakan
oleh orangtuanya untuk bergaul dengan Kristus dan Gerejanya.
Sebaliknya, saya yakin Anda akan merasa “ngenes” bila menyaksikan
gereja-gereja di Eropa, hanya dihadiri oleh para lansia! Jarang sekali
orang muda dan keluarga muda (plus anak-anaknya) yang memenuhi gereja.
Tentu berlimpahnya umat yang hadir dalam Gereja kita, perlu tetap
diimbangi dengan upaya menjaga kekhusukan dan kekhidmatan perayaan
Ekaristi. Maka kuncinya dalam hal ini adalah katekese iman dalam
keluarga akan makna peryaaam Ekaristi itu sendiri bagi kita.
Demikianlah beberapa hal yang perlu diperhatikan agar kita bisa merayakan Ekaristi bersama dengan khidmat. Semoga.

Sumber: Beriman Katolik dari Altar Sampai Pasar (Yogyakarta: Pustaka Nusatama, 2006) 86-93.

sumber http://imankatolik.or.id/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=49

MEDITASI KATOLIK

2009-12-10T08:06:00.001-08:00

Era Meditasi
Kelompok-kelompok meditasi sedang marak di Jakarta. Orang-orang berbondong-bondong mencari penyegaran batin dan fisik lewat praktik-praktik yoga, meditasi transendental, crystal healing, terapi aroma, dan lain-lain. Pencapaian gelombang alpha (gelombang pada frekuensi rendah) pada otak memang membuat kecanduan. Stress berkurang. Pikiran menjadi lebih jernih. Badan pun terasa lebih segar. Produktivitas meningkat.

Fenomena-fenomena seperti yang ditemukan di Jakarta sebenarnya sudah menjadi salah satu kultur global. Dokumen Vatikan yang berjudul “Yesus Kristus, Pengemban Air Hidup – Refleksi Kristiani atas ‘New Age’”, mensinyalir adanya pergeseran fundamental cara pandang orang dewasa ini terhadap kehidupan:

Dari fisika mekanistik Newtonian kepada fisika quantum;
Dari pengagungan rasio modernitas kepada penghargaan atas perasaan, emosi, dan pengalaman (sering dipaparkan sebagai pergeseran dari ‘otak kiri’ – pemikiran rasional kepada ‘otak kanan’ – pemikiran intuitif);
Dari dominasi maskulinitas dan patriarki kepada suatu perayaan femininitas, di dalam diri individu maupun dalam masyarakat.
Harus diakui bahwa praktik-praktik new age memang dapat membawa kesegaran lahir-batin, bahkan perbaikan kehidupan moral. Akan tetapi, praktik-praktik aquarian yang ditawarkan mereka itu belumlah cukup. Pada tingkatan tertentu, spiritualitas mereka harus ditinjau secara kritis. Di balik gerakan-gerakan new age ada sinkretisasi (pencampur-adukan) unsur-unsur esoterik (ketertarikan pada paham-paham misterius dan yang berbau klenik) dan sekular. Sinkretisasi ini mengarah pada pengagungan berlebihan pada pribadi manusia dan kapasitasnya. Pada tahapan pengagungan ini diyakini manusia dapat memperoleh kuasa ilahi dengan usahanya sendiri. Setiap manusia punya potensi untuk menjadi ‘allah’ ketika mereka menyatukan kesadarannya (atau menyamakan getaran mereka) dengan getaran alam semesta.
Paham new age tentang manusia secara implisit menyatakan sikap mereka tentang Allah. Bagi aliran ini, Allah ialah “prinsip hidup non-personal”, “semangat atau roh yang meresapi alam semesta”. Allah bukanlah pribadi, melainkan akumulasi dari kesadaran-kesadaran yang meresapi segalanya. Meditasi dan segala olah batin diarahkan kepada penyatuan dan harmonisasi dengan kesadaran universal tersebut.

Hati-hati Memilih Metode Meditasi
Kalau saya katakan “meditasi itu kebutuhan”, jelaslah yang saya maksudkan bukanlah meditasi ala new age. Meditasi Katolik sama sekali berbeda dengan meditasi semacam itu. Cara duduk dan metode pemusatan boleh mirip. Akan tetapi, spiritualitas dan tujuannya sama sekali berbeda. Meditasi ala new age diklaim tidak saja membawa manusia kepada kesegaran jiwa-raga, tetapi mengarahkan manusia pada pencerahan, yang membuatnya setara dengan manusia-manusia utama yang pernah hidup. Yesus dari Nasareth diakui sebagai salah satu saja dari manusia-manusia tersebut. Dengan kata lain, new age menegaskan bahwa setiap manusia bisa menjadi ‘Mesias’, ‘Budha’, atau ‘Avatar’ yang lain. Ada pun, meditasi Katolik mengarah pada persatuan dengan Allah lewat jalan penyerahan diri dan kerendahan hati. Meditasi Katolik selalu sekaligus adalah doa.
Di dalam meditasi Katolik terkandung suatu kesadaran bahwa Allahlah yang terlebih dahulu mengasihi manusia. Dia lebih rindu untuk mencari manusia daripada manusia rindu mencari Dia. Pemusatan batin dan meditasi diarahkan untuk persiapan kepada doa yang lebih mendalam, yakni kontemplasi. Allah rindu mencari manusia dan berkomunikasi dengannya. Pada tahapan doa yang paling dalam, manusia betul-betul berjumpa dan bersatu di dalam Dia, sehingga tidak ada lagi kata-kata. Pikiran Allah menjadi pikiranku. Kehendak Allah menjadi kehendakku. Itulah kontemplasi ilahi. Itulah harta karun dan mutiara terpendam yang luar biasa berharganya.
Nilai luar biasa dari meditasi dan kontemplasi ilahi ini bisa dilihat dari buah-buahnya:

Dengan latihan-latihan ini orang sungguh-sungguh belajar menguasai badan, perasaan, dan pikiran. Dengan demikian, daya perhatian/konsentrasi diperbesar.
Penguasaan pikiran dan fantasi pada gilirannya akan memperbaiki ingatan, menggiatkan aktivitas intelektual, serta memperkuat kehendak.
Manfaat terbesarnya terdapat pada bidang rohani:
Hidupnya menjadi ilahi, sehingga apa yang dilakukannya menjadi semakin bernilai di mata Tuhan dan akan merupakan berkat yang besar bagi seluruh Gereja, bahkan umat manusia.
Dia sendiri juga akan dipenuhi dengan kebahagiaan yang mendalam. Dia akan bebas dari segala bentuk kekuatiran dan kerisauan dan lebih tahan menanggung segala beban dan salib kehidupan.
Budinya pun akan memperoleh terang ilahi yang lebih besar sehingga ia akan dapat lebih menyelami misteri Allah, baik yang terkandung dalam Alkitab, maupun yang nyata dari karya-karya Allah.
Kasih dan kebahagiaannya akan meluap keluar kepada orang-orang sekelilingnya.

Metode Meditasi Katolik
Meditasi ala new age berakar dari penghargaan berlebihan pada kemampuan manusia dan berujung pada pemberhalaan manusia. Saya tidak menemukan kata-kata yang cocok untuk mendeskripsikan aliran ini selain kata: “sombong”. Terang yang mereka tawarkan hanya akan membawa kepada kebutaan. Seperti kalau terlalu lama melihat terang yang menyilaukan, manusia akan buta. Kesombongan semacam ini amat lekat dengan kesombongan Lusifer, sang Malaikat Terang yang jatuh itu.
Meditasi Katolik bersumber dari kesadaran akan kelemahan manusiawi dan keterbukaan terhadap rahmat penebusan Kristus. Tujuan dari meditasi ini adalah persatuan dengan Allah. Bukan untuk menjadi Allah, melainkan supaya Allah dapat bekerja dengan bebas melalui anak-anak-Nya. Jika akar meditasi new age ialah kesombongan, dasar meditasi Katolik ialah kerendahan hati.
Ada beberapa metode meditasi Katolik yang sudah teruji. Antara lain: doa Yesus (dengan mengulang-ulangi nama Yesus) atau lectio divina (meditasi dengan menggunakan sarana Kitab Suci). Di bawah ini saya akan memberikan petunjuk untuk melakukan kedua bentuk meditasi ini:

Petunjuk praktis untuk Melakukan Doa Yesus
Ambillah sikap duduk yang baik, entah dengan bersila ataupun dengan dingklik. Yang penting punggung harus tegak. Kalau bersila, usahakan agar kedua lututmu menempel pada lantai. Sarana berupa bantal dapat dipakai di sini untuk mengganjal pantat. Mata dapat dipejamkan atau dibuka. Kalau dibuka arahkan kira-kira satu meter ke depan di lantai.
Tajamkan indera-inderamu. Mulailah dengan telinga. Arahkan pendengaranmu kepada suara-suara yang paling jauh sampai yang paling dekat, yang paling keras sampai yang paling sayup. Setelah itu bayangkan suara-suara itu mengalir seperti sungai. Demikian pula perasaan-perasaan yang menerpa kulitmu, entah itu gatal, dingin, panas, gesekan dengan baju. Rasakan juga debaran jantung dan denyut nadimu. Tajamkan perasaanmu lalu biarkan berlalu. Jangan diperhatikan. Lakukan hal yang sama untuk penciuman dan terakhir pikiranmu. Biarkan semua mengalir seperti sungai.
Di dalam meditasi jauh lebih sulit menolak pelanturan secara keras dibandingkan hanya sekedar membiarkan setiap pelanturan atau gangguan berupa suara-suara berlalu seperti sungai. Perbandingannya demikian, ketika kita sedang konsentrasi berbicara dengan orang lain di pasar, kita sadar bahwa di sekitar kita orang berlalu-lalang. Namun, mereka yang berlalu-lalang serta pembicaraan di sekitar anda tidak akan mengganggu pembicaraan anda. Demikian pula halnya dengan komunikasi dengan Allah. Biarkan yang lain itu berlalu-lalang, jangan diperhatikan.
Tariklah nafas panjang dan hembuskan secara perlahan. Lakukan sepelan dan selembut mungkin, tetapi jangan dipaksakan. Wajar dan rileks saja. Lalu, mulailah dengan menyebut nama Yesus dengan penuh iman dan cintakasih. Engkau dapat meritmekannya pada irama napasmu. Waktu tarik napas: Yeee, waktu keluar: susss. Atau boleh juga: Tuhannnn ––– Yesussss. Dapat pula: Tuhan Yesus Kristus ––– Putera Allah yang hidup ––– Kasihanilah aku ––– orang berdosa ini. Atau: Tuhan Yesus Kristus ––– kasihanilah aku.

Petunjuk praktis untuk Melakukan Lectio Divina
Ambillah suatu teks Kitab Suci yang sudah kaukenal dan kaupersiapkan sebelumnya. Lakukan lectio divina dalam 4 langkah:

Pertama: lectio atau bacaan. Bacalah penuh perhatian, perlahan-lahan. Bertanyalah: Apakah arti teks itu dalam konteksnya dan menurut konteks kebudayaan waktu itu?
Kedua: meditatio atau peresapan. Resap-resapkan teks atau kalimat tersebut, khususnya yang menyentuh hatimu. Engkau dapat bertanya: Apa yang dikatakan Tuhan kepadaku secara pribadi melalui teks ini? Apa jawabanku pribadi? Kemudian teks atau kalimat yang menyentuh hatimu itu dapat kauulang-ulangi sampai puas hatimu.
Ketiga: oratio atau doa. Berdasarkan teks tersebut bicaralah dengan Tuhan dari hati ke hati dan ungkapkan isi hatimu kepada-Nya. Ingatlah, dalam doa yang terpenting bukanlah banyak berpikir tentang Tuhan, melainkan banyak mencintai. Itulah pesan Santa Teresa Avila.
Keempat: contemplatio atau kontemplasi. Sesudah berbicara sejenak, belajarlah diam, mendengarkan Tuhan, sambil memandang dengan iman Dia yang hadir dalam dirimu atau di hadapanmu. Bila perhatianmu tidak dapat terpusat lagi pada Tuhan yang hadir, kembalilah ke langkah pertama dan mulai dengan teks atau ayat berikutnya. Proses itu diulangi seperti di atas sampai waktu yang ditentukan untuk doa telah selesai.
Penutup
Banyak orang yang mengaku sulit berkonsentrasi dalam meditasi. Itu hal yang wajar sebab meditasi itu latihan. Tidak ada orang yang langsung bisa masuk melompati masa latihan bermeditasi. Semakin seorang terlatih dalam meditasi, semakin siap ia masuk ke dalam keheningan lahir, batin, dan rohani. Karena itu, tidak perlu patah semangat kalau masih sulit masuk. Yang paling penting ialah usahamu untuk memberikan waktu kepada Tuhan.

Rm Georgius Paulus; penulis tetap di situs Carmelia.net

WARTA ODILIA 8 NOV 09

2009-11-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

Bagi yang ingin membaca ataupun cetak Warta Odilia Edisi Tgl. 8 November 2009
sudah dapat di akses di SUB PAROKI, silahkan diklik.
Mudah-mudahan kiriman tidak terlambat sehingga dapat segera terbit edisi berikutnya

PENUTUPAN DOA ROSARIO

2009-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Salam Maria, penuh Rahmat, Tuhan sertamu, terpujilah engkau diantara wanita, dan terpujilah buah tubuhmu Yesus.
Santa Maria, bunda Allah, doakanlah kami yang berdosa ini sekarang dan waktu kami mati. Amin

Sebulan sudah doa rosario berkumandang disetiap lingkungan, semoga di bulan Maria berikutnya semakin banyak umat yang bergabung.
Terima kasih kepada semua umat yang telah terlibat didalamnya. Tuhan Memberkati

TUGAS KOOR MALAM NATAL

2009-09-28T07:57:00.001-07:00

Hai, Rekan rekan wilayah Balaraja
Natal tahun ini wilayah Balaraja mendapatkan tugas untuk koor pada malam perayaan Natal 2009. Oleh karena itu mari kita bersama - sama membangun kembali kebersamaan umat wilayah Balaraja untuk latihan koor yang sudah berlangsung setiap hari Selasa, Jum'at dan Minggu. (khusus hari minggu latihan setelah Misa pagi bertempat di gereja)
Mari kita dukung kegiatan ini dengan latihan koor untuk memuji dan memuliakan hari kelahiran sang juru selamat kita Tuhan Yesus.

UCAPAN TERIMA KASIH

2009-04-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

Kami dari Panitia Paskah 2009 Paroki St. Odilia Citra Raya
Mengucapkan banyak terima kasih kepada :
- Seluruh umat Paroki St. Odilia yang telah berpartisipasi dalam penyelenggaraan Pekan Suci
- Seluruh Donatur yang tidak dapat disebutkan satu persatu yang begitu besar peranannya sehingga segala sesuatu dapat berjalan sesuai yang kami inginkan.
- Juga tak lupa kepada Pastor, Bruder, Suster, Prodiakon, PA/PS, Lektor, Koor, Organis, Tatalaksana, Security, kebersihan, dan seluruh Panitia umat Balaraja, sehingga semua kegiatan Perayaan dari Minggu Palma hingga Misa Lansia dapat berjalan dengan sukses.

SELAMAT PASKAH 2009 sampai jumpa di kepanitian yang lain.

Lingkungan St. Anna

2009-02-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

Lingkungan Santa Anna Balaraja

Terbentuk tahun 1996 yang dirintis team LDD yang tinggal di Balaraja : Bp A. Hs Shukur, Sr Jeanne D’Arc Hk dan Sr Vincentia HK. Karena umat yang terdata saat itu masih terbatas maka hanya menamakan satu lingkungan saja yaitu Santa Maria Balaraja dengan pelayanan daerah Balaraja dan sekitarnya. Walaupun satu lingkungan yang amat luas, pada tahun 1997 rencana pengembangan sudah dalam konsep hanya menunggu waktu dan kelengkapan data. Umat yang terdata dikelompokan sesuai tempat tinggal diberi nama sektor dan ada ketua, masing sektor diberi kewenangan untuk program kegiatan. Ada 3 sektor saat itu :sektor 1 Perumahan Taman Balaraja , sektor 2 Villa Balaraja dan sektor 3 Permata Balaraja, sementara yang berdomisili di sepanjang Jalan Raya Balaraja Serang sampai perbatasan Cikande masih di tangani oleh Pak Shukur dan Suster- Suster Konglegrasi HK. Sekarang Balaraja sudah menjadi wilayah yang terdiri dari 5 lingkungan yang tersentral di Perumahan dan sekitarnya ( Telaga Bastari, Permata Balaraja, Villa Balaraja, Taman Balaraja dan Bukit Gading )

Evaluasi perjalanan yang cukup panjang dari sector 2 menjadi Lingkungan Santa Anna bisa menjadi cerita yang menarik untuk generasi akan datang. Saat masih sector umat yang hanya terdata 9 keluarga muda +/- 30 jiwa telah berkomitmen untuk tetap mengadakan ibadat sabda setiap hari Sabtu malam Pkl 19.30 , kecuali bersamaan dengan hari libur lebaran. Tradisi ini masih berjalan sampai sekarang, satu kebanggaan tersendiri. Dari data terakhir jumlah umat di Balaraja sudah mencapai 203 jiwa dari 57 KK, dikelompokan : usia dibawah 5 tahun 24 jiwa + usia 6 s/d 12 tahun 32 jiwa + usia 13 s/d 21 tahun 11 jiwa dan diatas 21 tahun 136 jiwa. Dengan jumlah yang cukup banyak dimungkinkan kedepannya akan dimekarkan menjadi 2 lingkungan.

Kurun waktu 1997 s/d 2009 Lingkungan Santa Anna telah mengalami beberapa generasi kepemimpinan ( Bp Yohanes Saman – Bp Al Slamet Mamik - Bp Yohanes Openg – Bp Robertus ) generasi berikutnya masih banyak yang menunggu dan kaderisasi sepertinya sudah berjalan dengan baik. Teritorial lingkungan meliputi : Sebelah timur perbatasan desa Saga, sebelah barat perbatasan desa Parahu dan sebelah selatan sepanjang jalan baru kawasan industri Balaraja. Banyak kegiatan yang membuat umat bisa berkumpul dengan agenda rutin seperti : ibadat lingkungan setiap Minggu, bina iman anak setiap Minggu, arisan WK setiap bulan dan misa lingkungan. Selain kegiatan rutin masih ada lagi media yang bisa mengumpulkan sebagian pengurus dan umat diantarnaya : latihan koor, mengunjungi dan mendoakan anggota keluarga yang sakit dan terkena musibah atau berduka sepertinya merupakan suatu kewajiban yang harus dilaksanakan. Untuk ujud tertentu umat juga sudah mulai terbiasa mengundang anggota lain untuk dijadikan agenda ibadat lingkungan. Umat juga sudah banyak bersosialisasi membuka diri diluar saudara seiman, banyak diantara umat menjadi pengurus RT dan RW lingkungan setempat.
Adanya budaya berkumpul antar umat sudah merupakan suatu kebutuhan yang mempunyai nilai tersendiri dimata umat terutama saling menguatkan dalam iman, pengurus menyiasati kondisi jangan sampai Vakum , banyak cara dan metode dalam kondisi tertentu membuat pembentukan panitia kecil lingkup lingkungan sekaligus pelatihan kaderisasi untuk kegiatan Natal , Paskah , Ziarah ataupun kegiatan rekreasi keluarga & support kegiatan bina iman anak.
Dimuliakan namaMu Tuhan Yesus atas penyertaan dalam karya umat di Lingkungan ini, sungguh kami banyak dirubah dan dimatangkan oleh semangat kepedulian antar sesama.

WAJAH PANITIA PASKAH

2009-02-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

RAPAT PANITIA

2009-02-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

Rapat Proposal sudah dilakukan tgl 1 februari 2009 dihadiri 12 peserta, seperti foto diatas Pak Slamet bersama keluarga juga hadir, Bp. Y. Mujiya, Bp. Emanuel, Bp. Purwanto sedang serius mendengarkan masukan dari Bp. Slamet

PROFILE KETUA PANITIA

2009-02-04T09:02:00.000-08:00

Antonius Riyanto, Lahir di sebuah desa terpencil di kabupaten Semarang tepatnya di desa Kebowan Kec, Suruh Kab, Semarang adalah sebuah desa yang penduduknya kurang lebih 70 KK yang mayoritas penduduknya adalah kaum non Kristen. Saya masuk Khatolik Tahun 1998 dan di baptis di gereja St. Agustinus Karawaci. Saya anak Pertama dari tiga bersaudara. Saya bekerja di perusahaan CAT KAPAL ( PT. Chugoku Paints Indonesia ) yang berkantor di gedung Midplaza 1 Lt 8 Jakarta pusat. Pada awal katekumen sampai saya menjadi seperti sekarang ini adalah sungguh pengalaman yang luar biasa bagi kehidupan iman saya. Saya sungguh sangat menyadari bahwa menjadi orang khatolik itu tidaklah mudah karena tantanganya sungguh luar biasa, kita harus siap menderita, siap dihina orang, harus mampu memaafkan musuh kita dll. Saya masih ingat kata-kata Romo Pandoyo sebelum saya di baptis. " Mas kamu apa sudah siap jadi orang khatolik " jawab saya " siap Romo "
" memang kamu siap di hina orang, di cemooh, di asingkan, dll. berat lho mas jadi orang khatolik itu ". dari dasar itulah saya mampu mejalani panggilan hidup saya ini dengan sukacita. apapun yang ada kaitanya dengan kehidupan iman saya saya hanya ingin menjawab " Ya " dan " Amin ".
Aleluya, semoga Tuhan selalu menyertai setiap langkah kita.

PROPOSAL

2009-02-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

PROPOSAL
PERAYAAN PASKAH 2009

A. LATAR BELAKANG

S
aatnya kita juga mulai mau membuka mata hati kita bahwa masih banyak hal yang dapat kita kerjakan untuk orang lain yang membutuhkan uluran kasih kita. Pada perayaan Paskah 2009, dimana kita kembali diingatkan betapa besarnya pengorbanan Yesus Kristus Tuhan kita di kayu salib untuk menebus dosa kita, semua percaya bahwa inilah waktu Tuhan yang indah bagi kita semua untuk belajar mengamalkan kasih-Nya yang terlebih dahulu sudah kita alami selama ini.

sebagai komunitas basis tentunya sudah menjadikan kerinduan kami semua agar lewat komunitas ini Paroki St. Odilia semakin banyak orang yang diberkati dan dapat merasakan kasih yang nyata lewat perbuatan. Meskipun tidak besar di mata manusia namun akan menjadi kesan hidup bagi mereka tentang kasih itu sendiri di kemudian hari.

Melalui kegiatan ini kami juga mempunyai tujuan untuk memperkenalkan kepada umat sejak dini tentang makna Paskah yang sejati lewat saling berbagi kasih dan peduli dengan sesama.

Momentum yang tepat masa Prapaskah dan Perayaan Paskah bagi komunitas basis untuk meningkatkan iman Kristiani kita melalui kegiatan doa, puasa., pendalaman Kitab Suci, aksi sosial, pembagian sembako, pengobatan, kepanitiaan dan sebagainya. Sehingga rangkaian Perayaan Paskah 2009 ini dapat berlangsung dengan sukses tentunya perlu dukungan seluruh umat di Paroki Santa Odilia.

B. TUJUAN DAN SASARAN KEGIATAN

Tujuan :

1. Memberikan kesempatan yang luas bagi seluruh umat di Paroki St.Odilia untuk saling peduli kepada sesama dan lebih banyak meluangkan waktu untuk berdoa.
2. Menciptakan kesatuan hati diantara umat di Paroki St. Odilia melalui kegiatan puasa, beramal serta pertobatan persiapan untuk memperbaharui janji baptis.
3. Agar perayaan Paskah sungguh menjadi teladan dan kebangkitan kita sebagai orang beriman yang percaya akan Yesus Kristus.

Sasaran :

Semua kegiatan dari masa Pra Paskah sampai hari Raya Paskah tahun 2009 ini dapat berlangsung dengan lancar dan sukses, tentunya peran serta seluruh umat di Paroki St. Odilia ini dapat berpartisipasi baik dalam bentuk doa, dana, juga tenaga agar semua kegiatan ini dapat terlayani dengan baik.

C. PELAKSANAAN KEGIATAN

1. Tema :
Perayaan Paskah Tahun 2009

2. Pelaksana :
Wilayah Balaraja Paroki Santa Odilia Citra Raya.

3. Waktu Pelaksanaan :

- Rabu Abu : Tgl. 25 Februari 2009
- Misa Jam : 19.30 WIB

- Sabtu : Tgl. 04 April 2009
(Tidak ada perarakan) - Misa Jam : 18.00 WIB

- Minggu Palma : Tgl. 05 April 2009
(Perarakan) - Misa I Jam : 08.00 WIB

- Minggu Sore
(Tidak ada perarakan) - Misa II Jam : 18.00 WIB

- Kamis Putih : Tgl. 09 April 2009
- Misa I Jam : 18.00 WIB

- Misa II Jam : 21.00 WIB

- Jum’at Agung : Tgl. 10 April 2009
(Jalan Salib dan Tablo) Jam : 08.00 WIB

- Ibadat Jam : 15.00 WIB

- Sabtu Suci : Tgl. 11 April 2009
- Misa I Jam : 18.00 WIB

- Misa II Jam : 21.30 WIB

- Minggu Paskah : Tgl. 12 April 2009
(Anak – anak dan umum) - Misa I Jam : 08.00 WIB

- Misa II Jam : 18.00 WIB

- Misa LANSIA : Tgl. 19 April 2009
- Misa Jam : 08.00 WIB

D. ANGGARAN BIAYA DAN SUMBER DANA

a. Anggaran biaya :

- Liturgi Rp. 2.500.000,--
- Dekorasi dan dokumentasi Rp. 2.000.000,--
- Perlengkapan Rp. 20.000.000,--
- Konsumsi Rp. 13.500.000,--
- P3K Rp. 200.000,--
- Bunga Rp. 4.500.000,--
- Sosial Rp. 3.500.000,--
- Bina Iman Rp. 6.000.000,--
- Sekretariat Rp. 1.800.000,--
- Lansia Rp. 3.000.000,--
- Keamanan & Parkir Rp. 6.000.000,--
- Lain-lain Rp. 2.000.000,--
Total Biaya……………………………………………………..Rp. 65.000.000,--
(Terbilang : Enam Puluh Lima Juta Rupiah)

b. Sumber Dana

- Iuran Wajib Lingkungan
(28 Lingkungan @ Rp. 400.000,-) Rp. 11.200.000,--
- Amplop Dana Paskah
(7 Minggu @ Rp. 2.500.000,--) Rp. 17.500.000,--
- Donatur Lingkungan
(28 Lingk. @ 5 amplop @ Rp. 100.000,-- Rp. 14.000.000,--
- Sumbangan
- Donatur Luar Rp. 22.300.000,--
Total Dana ……………………………………………………Rp. 65.000.000,--
(Terbilang : Enam Puluh Lima Juta Rupiah)

E. PENUTUP

Demikianlah proposal ini kami buat agar dapat dipergunakan sebagai bahan acuan dalam penyelenggaraan Perayaan Paskah 2009. Atas perhatian dan dukungan yang diberikan, kami ucapkan terima kasih.

Tangerang, 04 Februari 2009
Mengetahui,
Ketua Panitia Sekretaris I

Antonius Riyanto Petrus Warsito

Mengetahui / menyetujui,
Pastor Paroki Santa Odilia Citra Raya

Pastor Antonius Suprapto. SS.CC

SUSUNAN PANITIA PASKAH 2009

2009-02-02T09:23:00.001-08:00

SUSUNAN PANITIA PASKAH 2009

Penanggung Jawab : - Pastor Antonius Suprapto, SS.CC
- Pastor Antonius Dengu Blikon, SS.CC
- Dewan Paroki

Koordinator Umum : Bp. Yohanes Openg (Ketua Wilayah Balaraja)

Ketua : Bp. Antonius Riyanto (St. Anna)

Wakil Ketua : Bp. Felix (St. Maria Imaculata)

Sekretaris I : Bp. Petrus Warsito (St. Anna)

Sekretaris II : Bp. Lourentius Endarto (St. Dominikus)

Bendahara : Bp. Yohanes Didik (St. Anna)

SEKSI – SEKSI

1. Liturgi 1. Bp. Slamet Mamiek (Koord.) (St. Anna)
2. Bp. Paulus Sarno (St. Dominikus)
3. Ibu Yuni (St. Maria)

2. Perlengkapan 1. Bp. Purwanto (Koordinator) (St. Maria Imaculata)
2. Bp. Emanuel (St. Maria Imaculata)
3. Bp. Fx. Joko (St. Anna)
4. Bp. Agus P. (St. Anna)
5. Bp. Tarsicius Triyana (St. Anna)
6. Bp. Subekti (St. Anna)
7. Bp. Jatmiko (St. Anna)
8. Bp. Frans (St. Maria)
9. Bp. Yulius (St. Maria)
10. Bp. Matius Sayono (St. Dominikus)
11. Bp. Waskito (St. Dominikus)
12. Bp. Situmorang (St. Dominikus)
13. Bp. Aloysius (St. Dominikus)
14. Bp. Joni (St. Maria Magdalena)
15. Bp. Andika (St. Maria Magdalena)
16. Bp. David (St. Maria Magdalena)
17. Bp. Tarigan (St. Maria Magdalena)
18. Bp. Arisamto (St. Maria Magdalena)

3. Dana 1. Bp. Yohanes Saman (Koord.) (St. Anna)
2. Bp. Robertus (St. Anna)
3. Suster Suzana (St. Anna)
4. Bp. Agustinus Manulang (St. Maria Magdalena)
5. Bp. Y. Mujiya (St. Dominikus)
6. Ibu Kamino (St. Maria Imaculata)
7. Bp. Heru (St. Maria)
8. Bp. Maximus (St. Maria)

4. Dekorasi dan 1. Bp. Heru (Koordinator) (St. Maria)
Dokumentasi 2. Bp. Edi (St. Maria)
3. Bp. Cirilus (St. Anna)
4. Bp. Abriyono (St. Anna)
5. Bp. Bernadus (St. Maria Magdalena)
6. Mudika (Wil. Balaraja)

5. Keamanan 1. Bp. Victor (Koordinator) (St. Maria)
2. Bp. Marpaung (St. Maria)
3. Bp. Martin (St. Maria)
4. Bp. Gunawan (St. Maria)
5. Bp. Ari (St. Maria Imaculata)
6. Bp. Vitus (St. Anna)
7. Bp. Gomidas (St. Anna)
8. Bp. Pardomoan Naibaho (St. Anna)
9. Bp. Markus (St. Anna)
10. Bp. Surip (St. Maria Magdalena)
11. Bp. Agustinus Lake (St. Maria Magdalena)
12. Bp. Yosep Agus (St. Dominikus)
13. Bp. Don Bosco (St. Dominikus)
14. Bp. Frans Damanik (St. Dominikus)
15. Bp. Jefri (St. Dominikus)

6. Sosial 1. Bp. Marcelinus (Koordinator) (St. Anna)
2. Ibu Ignatius (St. Anna)
3. Bp. Sigit (St. Maria Magdalena)
4. Ibu Emanuel (St. Maria Magdalena)
5. Ibu Narti (St. Dominikus)
6. Nn. Dwi Rahayu (St. Dominikus)

8. Bunga 1. Ibu Slamet (Koordinator) (St. Anna)
2. Ibu – ibu WK Odilia

9. Bina Iman 1. Ibu Marcelinus (Koordinator) (St. Anna)
2. Bp. Petrus Yohanes (St. Maria)
3. Ibu Natalia (St. Maria Magdalena)

4. Ibu Ester (St. Maria Imaculata)
5. Ibu Wiwid (St. Maria Imaculata)
6. Ibu Bina Iman (Paroki St. Odilia)

10. P3K 1. Ibu Didik (Koordinator) (St. Anna)
2. Ibu Saman (St. Anna)
3. Bp. Ignatius (St. Anna)
4. Ibu Agustinus Silaban (St. Dominikus)
5. Bp. Imanuel Sinulingga (St. Maria Imaculata)

11. Konsumsi 1. Ibu Robertus (Koordinator) (St. Anna)
2. Ibu Petrus (St. Anna)
3. Ibu P. Naibaho (St. Anna)
4. Ibu Joko (St. Anna)
5. Ibu Ari (St. Maria Imaculata)
6. Ibu Felix (St. Maria Imaculata)
7. Ibu Martin (St. Maria)
8. Ibu Christine (St. Maria Magdalena)
9. Ibu Clara (St. Dominikus)

“Selamat Bertugas dan Sukses, Tuhan Menyertai Kita”

Communication

2008-11-27T06:34:00.001-08:00

Communication
By: Kamyar Shah
Posted on: 2008-01-29

Article Summary: Communication

One of the rather siginificant issues in efficiency is business communication. In particular I am interested in 360-Degree feedback, speak-out programs and improvement contests.

360-degree feedback refers to the process of collecting information and evaluation from all relevant parties concerning a particular individuals' performance, which may include superiors, coworkers, and team members. Personally, I have a serious problem with this kind of feedback. In my experience and opinion, it is a great mistake to ask equals or coworkers for feedback: such feedback is naturally biased. In either case, the feedback can hardly be neutral due to factors such as consequences or rivalry. I believe that feedback should be obtained by neutral superiors which are only interested in objective evaluation that may lead to improvement. Otherwise, it may create a hostile work environment.

Speak out program is referred to the process of collection and evaluation of employee input in decision making. This particular process will enable the employees to contribute to the firms' decision making by taking advantage of the knowledge of front line workers. I certainly have a positive experience with this sort of input: mid and upper management are usually far away from day to day process and flaws of daily tasks. The most reliable input is from those that actually have to deal with customers and clients. Thus, their input is more accurate and can be invaluable to streamlining and higher profits. Naturally the information and input has to be evaluated for neutrality: this can be easily achieved by cross referencing several employees' information.

Improvement contest refers to competitive evaluation of implemented improvement actions, whereby internal assessment mechanisms decide on the validity and value of each contestant group. Personally I have not yet witnessed a successful implementation of such process. I believe that such contest would be contradictory to clan culture of team work and success: since by definition, improvement contests are the evaluation of team efforts, it is contradictory to recognition of individual efforts. I realize that team work and team efforts are invaluable to success of most companies, however, since the basic building block of a team, is its individual members, I would suggest that personal and individual efforts should be recognized first. Thus, I believe that a successful improvement contest has to recognize the individual efforts as well as group efforts.

Ultimately, all three of these concepts are tools of communication which are meant to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of corporate productivity. It is vital to analyze all of them in context of individual setting and individual corporate culture. Any selected process or combination of procedures has to be chosen and optimized based on predictive advantages within particular industry, and clan culture.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Kamyar Shah
Communication Or visit our Storage Unit Finder

Perceive Each Other

2008-11-27T06:33:00.002-08:00

Relationship Communication - How Couples Perceive Each Other

Just because someone is listening to me, I don't assume that they got the communication that I sent. Neither should you.

So after I say something, I have created the habit of asking my listener what s/he heard from me. I also like to check in on my own perceptions about what I've heard from someone.

Rather than assuming that my perceptions about what other people mean when they say something are accurate, I've gotten into the practice of asking if what I heard was what they meant to communicate to me.

Here's one great example:
I had assumed for a while that when my lover didn't ask for my support (because I certainly ask for his) that it was because he didn't think I had anything to give him. I was really upset about this story I was telling myself and it was affecting how I related to him. I found that I resented asking for his support, and did everything in my power to avoid it. I felt awful because it thwarted my natural inclination to ask. But he wouldn't ask me… It was a viscous circle.

When I finally checked in and asked "I've had the feeling that you don't ask me for help because you don't think I have anything to offer you. Is that accurate with what is happening for you?" He laughed. "Absolutely not," he said. "I just can't seem to ask. It's my issue. I really value your help," he said.

Lately we've been working with asking each other what we RECEIVE in our communications and it's fascinating how much of what is SENT is altered by way of how we hear things. He could say "I don't want to talk about it," and I will hear "You don't want to talk to me." We then have an opportunity to clarify and better understand how each of us uses language.

If you use the words "sense," "feel" or "intuit," you let your partner know "Look, this is a perception."

No one wants to be TOLD how he or she is." I sense you're angry," is an opening. "You're angry," is a dead end. Then simply ask, "Is that accurate?" "Does that resonate with you?" "Is that what's going on for you?"

It feels great to have someone care enough to really get it right and to be able to reflect your communication back to you with accuracy.

Perception Checking:
Ask who you're talking to reflect back to you what s/he heard. If what you had hoped to send and what they received are different, you've got a place to start from to clear up any misconceptions and get yourselves both "on the same page."
After someone says something to you, reflect back to him or her what you've heard. Discover if it matches. If it doesn't it gives you both the chance to make sure that the message that's being sent is the one you're getting.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Karen Brody is the founder and creator of Making Love Simply Divine. Karen is a relationship and sexuality coach, spiritual counselor and speaker, whose passion is to help people experience their potential for love in relationship. Find out more about Karen and get more of her incredible advice, tips, and other information at http://www.MakingLoveSimplyDivine.com http://www.MakingLoveSimplyDivine.com

Video Communication

2008-11-27T06:33:00.001-08:00

Video Communication Says Better!
By: Bogdana Baska

Article Summary: Video communication through video emails helps you to communicate better as you can see the person and talk as if you are right in front of him or her. Video communication is better than plain emailing because with it you can feel the presence of the person right in front of you and you may be able to express your thoughts better.

There are many ways to share your thoughts, feelings and information with
your friends, customers, colleagues and relatives. It is a bit difficult
to communicate when the person is very far away staying in some other
country or state. But technology has advanced so much that it is now
possible to interact with people all over the world with much ease. Thanks
to the advent of the Internet, emails can now connect people from
different countries in just seconds. What is more interesting is that it
is now possible to communicate better than plain email. Yes, now we have
the video emailing technology.

Video communication through video emails helps you to communicate better
as you can see the person and talk as if you are right in front of him or her. Video communication is better than plain emailing because with it you can feel the
presence of the person right in front of you and you may be able to express your thoughts better. Video emailing can be of great use for the Internet marketing.
With the help of video emails you can convince your customers better about your
products or services. It would be just like meeting your customer right at
his place. Video emails can also help to prevent as misconceptions or
misinterpretations that ruin relationships. Long distance calls are very
expensive Video emails help you to stay connected with your loved ones.

Video technology also helps you to enhance the performance of your
business and you can gain huge profits. There is an innovative technology
what is known as video blogging. Video blog is a web blog, which is used
as a communication vehicle. These video blogs also include supporting text
and images. Video blogging is now the fastest growing technology in the
field of Internet marketing. Video blogs help you to grasp the attention
of your customer faster than a plain email because we are all living in a
visual society. We get attracted to a product when we are able to see it
personally. You can now use video blogging to promote your website, to
boost up your Internet marketing by using video emails instead of simple
newsletters. You can use videos to build up your customer list and reap
huge profits. You can also send your customer a video blog to show how to
use a product.

Video technology has now made it possible to communicate
with your loved ones through video emails and also through video chatting.
Communication is always better through videos because we understand a lot
of things through the facial gestures and body language of the person.
This helps to build a strong relationship and bonding. With faster
computers and Internet connections, video technology is the next
revolution of this decade. Video technology has now made it possible to
communicate with your loved ones through video emails and also through
video chatting and that too free of cost. Communication is always better
through videos because we understand a lot of things through the facial
gestures and body language of the person. This helps to build a strong
relationship and bonding. It is now possible for you to stay connected
with their cell phones, computers, iPods through video chatting and
emails. Hello World Company boasts the first fully integrated system of
video communication and it offers various facilities such as hello mail,
hello instant messenger and hello live. Hello mail offers its users the
facility of sending videotexts and messages. Hello instant messenger is
the hottest messenger tool, which allows you to send video clips and
messages to your friends. This facility is available along with the hello
mail. Hello live is a web casting tool which helps you to broadcast to
more than 100 viewers at a time and this would be of great help to the
small business owners. With faster computers and Internet connections,
video technology is the next revolution of this decade.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Bogdana Baska
Bogdana Baska VMdirect Affiliate To learn more about this products or the opportunity please go to: http://www.videosocialnet.com/

A Quick Start

2008-11-27T06:32:00.003-08:00

Communication Skills: A Quick Start
By: Sri Hari

Article Summary: Here is the easy way to learn about Communication skills without going through a 300+ pages book which, one can forget about before he finishes it Always start with an Intention: Anything we start, including communication skills, usually has reason and a starting point. While we become conscious about this fact for the obvious things like brushing our teeth to avoid tooth decay, we forget to give the same importance to our communication. We start talking, go through all...

Here is the easy way to learn about Communication skills without going through a 300+ pages book which, one can forget about before he finishes it

Always start with an Intention:

Anything we start, including communication skills, usually has reason and a starting point. While we become conscious about this fact for the obvious things like brushing our teeth to avoid tooth decay, we forget to give the same importance to our communication. We start talking, go through all the niceties and then some how stumble upon the reason for conversation or make it up by that time.

The problem with this approach is that the message looses its power. If you keep doing this often, you loose the power to bring it to work when needed. As a soldier polishes and keeps his guns fit even during peacetime, we have to keep our arsenal of communication skills handy to use, when required.

Develop flexibility in language and in approach:

Most people will think being flexible means using all the words in the Dictionary. Having a good vocabulary does not mean that people have to run for a dictionary every time you speak. Instead, a good vocabulary means that you have created enough choices and variety in your language to suit the listening or reading requirements of many people.

Flexibility is also needed in your approach to communication. Developing more than one approach is really good. If your style of approaching women is the Nice Guy, try the cocky and funny approach. See how that works. One more area that we can change and notice the results very quickly is by modulating our voice. Here is quick exercise to learn how to modulate your voice. Practice speaking a Para in a British accent. Do your best to be British. If you find it hard watch BBC and imitate them. Next, try sounding American and then French or Chinese (speaking in English).

Once you have done at least 4 accents, switch between them as often as possible, in practice. After you do this for a while, notice how you naturally are modulating your voice and how you find it easy to choose from different tones and tonality. More about this, on my website.

One Caution: Please do not measure any new skill by the initial response you get because, all new skills need to be naturalized before it becomes effective. (http://www.communication-skills-4confidence.com/effective-communication-skill.html)

As you develop flexibility, you will find yourself more comfortable to live with and then others will also find you comfortable to be with.

Forget techniques and learn the principles:

A lot of managers are fond of using something called a Sandwich technique. It is situation where you slip in a negative comment or feedback layered in between two positive comments. It is a good technique no doubt. But if you repeat it to the same old staff for 2 years, it means you are not capable of innovating. People get conditioned to any one particular behavior over time and so the technique looses its impact.

We all have a favorite way of reacting to situations. We gather these techniques by experience and by learning from others. What we eventually forget is that they are just techniques, and are replaceable. Something like software programs which almost always gets replaced by a better version. But since it works so well to us, we get possessive about it and find our selves bound by it. It becomes difficult to break that mould. A person in a mould is like a frog in the well. He has limited reach and limited awareness.

Using techniques is like giving a fish to the hungry man while understanding the principles is like teaching him fishing. So, instead of getting all cluttered up with techniques understand the principles driving them. You will find many on my website.

So to be the survivor of the fittest in the field of communication skills, always start with an intention in your mind. Once you master this, your level of influence will increase rapidly. Take away your focus on techniques and learn the principles. This way you tap the source of power itself rather than a branch. The last and most importantly, develop flexibility in your language and approach. It will maximize your capacity to reach your audience and thus your power.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Sri Hari
Sri Hari has been developing new insights in communication skills helping thousands enjoy a happier life at http://www.communication-skills-4confidence.com/©SriHari200

Communication Skills Training

2008-11-27T06:32:00.001-08:00

Communication Skills Training - Effective Communication
By: Robin Chandler

Article Summary: Communication Key Skills, this document outlines some of the pitfalls and bear traps that litter our everyday Business Communication Issues. Together with some useful approaches to Effective Communication.

Good Communication Skills are essential

Being an effective communicator takes real skill. Communication skills have to be developed, honed and added to on an on-going basis. They are the heart of interpersonal skills and the greater your awareness of how it all works, the more effective your communication will be.

To be effective in business, you have to communicate well. To be a good manager, you have to communicate exceptionally well.

Here we look at basic communication dynamics, learning skills to improve your communication, using effective communication to improve and promote interpersonal relationships, creating an effective communication strategy.

We could write a book about the importance of communication key skills, but for now you can content yourself with some essentials for becoming a more effective communicator.

Communication Core Skills - The Essentials

Communication is Individual

We're Not All The Same

When you look at communication, presentation skills are not all there is to it. Far from it. Everyone communicates differently and sees the world differently. The greatest skill you can have in order to instantly and significantly improve you communications skills is to understand the other person's point view and how they see the world. Then you can adjust your own communication to take that into account.

Change Yourself to Change Others

Alongside this has to be the knowledge that the only person you can be sure of changing in any communication is you. Therefore, the most effective way to be in charge of what happens in any communication dynamic is changing what you do. When you can do this you are well on the way to promoting better relationships.

You are the Only One of You

There's never one right way to communicate. Authentic effective communication always happens when we reply on those things we know to be true about or for ourselves. Remember your personal style probably says more for you that all the words you use can.

What's Already Working?

Most people tend to look at what's wrong with themselves and other people rather than focusing on what already works. Remember, something (more than one thing, of course) has to be working well for you to have got this far already!

How Communication Happens

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

Interpersonal skills. Everything communicates. Remember! If you aren't clear about what you mean and what your intention is, the other person (or people) could easily (and sometimes deliberately), misinterpret what you mean.

What you do matters as much as what you say. It's now accepted that the words account for only 7-11% of a communication. Your behaviour will 'read' unconsciously to other people and you can certainly be more in charge of the reading matter!

Language is one of the most powerful reflections of how we think and feel about ourselves and others. You need to be aware of the padding, justifications and excuses you use and whether they are appropriate. You can make a big impact simply by changing some of your language and developing your verbal skills, This way you can significantly improve your communication skills.

Communication Cycle

There is a neat communication cycle we've come across that can help you understand how to make communication work better. It means that you can take responsibility for every stage on the Communication Cycle:

Spoken - Heard - Understood - Agreed To - Acted On - Implemented.

Be aware of where you or others tend to fall off the cycle.

What can get in the way of Effective Communication

Here are some Common Barriers to Effective Communication.

We all make Too Many Assumptions

Be aware of the assumptions you make, especially making something up and then acting as though what you made up was true. Notice if you alter your behaviour with certain people because of the assumptions you make about them. Also be aware of the assumptions you think other people make about you.

Assumptions aren't necessarily 'bad'. Sometimes it's important to let people keep their assumptions (or some of them at least!) about you.

One effective way to deal with assumptions is to say to the other person, 'I've assumed such and such. 'Is that true?' or 'I'm making an assumption here about... Do you agree?'

Good communication in the workplace is often sabotaged by too many unconfirmed assumptions.

Patterns/Reverting to Type

We are pattern-making beings, which is good. However, sometimes we get so used to behaving and responding in certain ways that it's hard to see that there's any other way of doing things. When the pressure is on or we are under stress, even our best intentions may go out the window as we revert to type.

Habits, patterns, routine ways of thinking and behaving are difficult to change. Noticing your patterns at least gets you aware of them! One way to practise this is to see how many communication habits and patterns have crept into your workplace. Try not to judge them. You can always decide if you want to change them or not.

Needing to Be Right

This is one area we all know about - the need to be right and in turn for the other person to be wrong. One skill that does need practise is to let go of needing to be right. Think of it as presenting information or a point of view rather than having to bludgeon someone else with your arguments.

If you want to promote effective relationships, this is one of the greatest communication key skills you can have is to be able to change what you want from a communication. You may have started out wanting the other person to agree with you, but by giving that up you can change your want to letting them know you understand their point of view.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict

One of the purposes of conflict is to arrive at a resolution, so if you avoid conflict, the problem usually (though not always) gets worse. The earlier you can identify that there is a problem and intervene, the better it will be. Good communication skills require you to be able to resolve conflict.

Agreement

Find something (anything will do) in the other person's argument which you can genuinely agree with. This is a great way to take the wind out of someone's sails and ensure you don't get drawn into an insoluble argument. People usually won't listen until they feel heard.

Bridge Building

Really listen to what the other person is saying - they usually give a lot of information without realising it. Building bridges by making an offer can help enormously, as can changing what you want.

'I' not 'You'

Use 'I' statements, not 'You' statements to avoid blaming. This also means that you take responsibility for how you feel, rather than making the other person responsible for making things all right for you.

Improving Communication Skills

Be a Good Influence

Attitude

You can change the direction of a communication if you change your attitude. There is no one attitude that's the 'right' one to have, though being direct and clear certainly helps.

Effective Listening and Responding

You can have tremendous influence on a communication as the listener and the responder. When we get little or no response from the listener, we often project our assumptions onto them about what they are thinking (and usually we assume they aren't thinking good things about us!).

Be Positive

Use affirmation and encouragement to get the best out of people. Notice when others do things well (even if it's part of their daily routine). This shows you're being attentive; most people respond well when they know that others are aware of what they do.

Quite simply, the workplace can be a far better place to be if you consciously sprinkle your communication with positive feedback.

The Importance of Basic Communication Skills

What's most important is that you don't leave the business of communication to chance. Raise your awareness, develop your skills and you'll be a role model for effective communication.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Robin Chandler
Jo Ellen and Robin run Impact Factory who provide Communications Training, Public Speaking Presentation Skills, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching for Individuals.

Communication Success

2008-11-27T06:31:00.002-08:00

7 Steps to Business Communication Success
By: Dot Olonovich

Article Summary: Do you face a business communication challenge? Follow these steps to improve your communication in a targeted area.

Copyright 2006 Logical Writing Solutions, Inc

What is success? The answer to that question is both personal and institutional for those of us who work in the business world. In essence, success is the ability to accomplish the task at hand. Technically, it is "to achieve one's aim to prosper".

You need thriving business relationships to prosper. In fact, we can measure much of our business success in terms of the viability of business relationships. Relationship health is directly affected by the quality of communication. Use the following steps to achieve communication success and to strengthen your critical business relationships.

Step 1: Identify a few communication weaknesses.

Can you think of any communication challenges that you face? It's time to brainstorm and quickly make a written list.

Here are a few questions to get you thinking about your own communication challenges: * Are your employees happy and satisfied? * Are your clients glad to provide referrals? * Are your partners and stakeholders well-informed and confident? * Do you feel motivated and inspired? * Do your conversations flow?

As you review the bulleted list above and consider your communication challenges, identify each challenge but don't get bogged down with other details.

Step 2: Decide to address the most bothersome communication weakness.

This choice is yours to make. However, whatever challenge you choose, you will find that the other relationships are naturally strengthened as you develop proactive and positive communication skills. You do not have to fix everything at once in order to benefit from this exercise!

Now that you have selected your challenge, it's time to stop and think about what makes it so challenging. In other words, if success was easy you wouldn't be working on this right now. Many leadership or business management challenges are a result of busy-ness. Leaders don't realize that others need communication that is: * Professional * Complete * Positive * Concise, and * Wholly relevant without any irrelevance

If you are a leader or a manager, communication is your job. People expect you to do it and do it well. The responsibility for communicating is yours. It would be literally impossible for others to compensate for your poor attention to communication.

In spite of the advice of gurus world-wide, there seems to be a reluctance to buy into this idea. We all want to believe that we can just do our jobs well and receive the kudos. We want to believe that we are responsible for our own success. The truth of the matter is that most of us will be hindered, more or less, when we ignore communication or become passive.

Communication may not come naturally, and you may need to work on it. Communication brings power to your professional and personal life. Critical relationships can thrive with your attention.

To gain an understanding of how to resolve the weakness, you need to look at your communication patterns. You will develop communication that is regular and has flow. Communication, however, is not just about giving out messages. Communication is listening and speaking, receiving messages and conveying messages. Typically, listening is the thing that gets us into trouble. We don't do it.

Step 3: Listen to others for a week.

I know you're grumbling! Is a week really necessary? Yes. We're not just talking about passive listening either; you will ingeniously create opportunities for listening. Listening must be practiced, and acting on incomplete information may be more harmful than doing nothing.

Consider how long you have been without the power of listening, and realize that a week is a small price to pay. While you are listening, you are reserving judgment and allowing the answers to come to you. Others often already know where the problem lies. They may even have ideas as to how you can fix the problem. Active listening requires practice, so be patient.

You may politely and nonchalantly ask for input during this time, but keep things casual and neutral by not being too intense and by refusing to form or give your opinion. This gives others the freedom to develop their thoughts and express them without disagreeing with you. Be sure to take notes on potential solutions.

Step 4: Define success and the benefits in this area.

After a week, you will probably have many ideas about how you could move forward. First, take a moment to define your ideal outcome. This is your defined target. You may not feel that you can make the mark on the first try. However, you need to choose to believe that success is possible and likely, and that you will have a reasonably positive response to your efforts. Your attitude affects your motivation and your outcome.

In addition, think about what benefits you hope to achieve. How would life or business be better as a result of your desired outcome?

You are painting the picture of what you'd like to see. For example, "Our clients know that we value their relationship as well as their business. We don't tell them this; we show them. Every call is answered in a polite manner. Each concern is personally addressed. We listen when they speak. We thank them for their input. We keep them informed of new products and company news. We are considerate in our pricing. We thank them for each purchase. In return, they have no interest in checking out other providers, and they remain loyal in spite of the efforts of our strong competitors. We have steady growth in our revenue."

Step 5: Make your proactive communication plan, being sure to establish checkpoints.

This plan will come out of your definition of success and your listening activities. Some examples of proactive communication would be providing customer service seminars for your employees, taking on a visible role that reaffirms your commitment to personal service, starting a service blog discussing best practices, scheduling individual meetings to check in with employees, or establishing standards of excellence and rewarding employees who excel or improve. Notice that these items are not remedial. You are not resolving past problems, but establishing a firm foundation for the future.

Also notice that you would choose one activity to plan. For example, if you choose to focus on a customer service seminar, you will define the necessary tasks and place those tasks in your planner. Choose your communication activity based upon whether you need a long-term or short-term effort. Also, consider the availability of resources and plan accordingly.

You may have to practice needed skills. For instance, if you are planning to present a customer service seminar yourself instead of outsourcing, you may need to schedule time to develop your presentation skills. If you are nervous about your skills in an area, practice those skills until you become calmly confident.

Step 6: Implement your plan.

Implement your plan, keeping your ideal outcome in mind as you go. Review checkpoints frequently to ensure that you are on track. Involve others in the plans when possible, or have an accountability partner. As things fall into place, you may be surprised at how well everything is going! Once your activity is complete or the communication fix is in place, it's time to take a realistic look at what you've accomplished.

Step 7: Evaluate the results.

Congratulations! How did you do? If you look at your definition from Step 4, you will be reminded of the gains have you have achieved. You may also note unforeseen obstacles that you overcame. Remember to thank those who helped you along the way, and make sure to reward yourself for your efforts.

Now you've seen the power of communication at work. Communicating will become easy (or easier) as you go through the 7 Steps to Business Communication Success again. Communication is the key to your success.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Dot Olonovich
Dot Olonovich helps executives and businesses to improve their relationships and profitability through professional-quality communication and writing. Her unique qualifications include an accounting degree and extensive business knowledge. To learn more about Dot, go to http://www.logicalwriters.com or contact her at dot@logicalwriters.com or 610.933.1989.

Effective Communication

2008-11-27T06:31:00.001-08:00

Effective Communication in Just 7 Steps
By: Robert F. Abbott

Article Summary: Aim for effective communication by following seven steps listed here, steps that push us to consider reader and listener responses. When we focus on those responses, we're more likely to get the results we want.

Good writing and good design. These are the criteria of a successful newsletter, right? That's what I used to think when I first started writing and publishing newsletters.

But, as I became more involved with my clients, and their expectations, I realized I'd been wrong. The quality of writing might be good, bad, or indifferent; they didn't really care. But, to them, effective communication meant something else entirely: Getting the right responses from their readers.

And, the more I thought about that, the more I realized that all effective communication involves the right kinds or the right numbers of responses.

When we communicate, we want something to happen. We want a particular result or results. And, when we communicate with results in mind, we're working toward effective communication.

Good writing and speaking do help us get a response, of course, because they help get the message across. As I've argued in my book, A Manager's Guide to Newsletters: Communicating for Results, a newsletter that doesn't get read cannot get a response from readers.

So, writing, designing, speaking, and all those other creative activities matter. But, in the end, responses are what count, and effective communication means getting the responses we want.

This applies to all kinds of effective communication, and not just campaigns aimed at customers or prospects. Managers who send messages to employees, for example, want employees to respond in a particular way. In some cases, they want employees to act or think differently, in other cases they simply want to reinforce what the employees already do.

For a couple of employee newsletters I published, effective communication meant greater awareness of health and safety issues. If the newsletter communicated effectively, then it should have helped reduce the number of plant accidents and helped employees lead healthier lifestyles.

One more point: Effective communication cannot be achieved without articulated objectives. As the old adage goes, "If you don't know where you're going, any road will do." Or, as the inimitable Yogi Berra put it, "If you don't know where you are going... You might end up someplace else."

With that, let's create a quick and easy checklist that takes us through seven basic steps required for effective communication:

1. What is your objective, what do you want to happen? Do you want more sales, reduced employee turnover, renewals by members? Be specific about your objectives, and if you can attach time and dollar values to them so much the better.

2. Can you articulate, in terms of your objectives, what you want listeners or readers to do? What action should they take? What thoughts do you want in their minds? Do you want to reinforce existing thinking or behaviors?

3. Know why readers or listeners would do what you're asking in your message. It's all very well for you to have objectives and to send messages, but you'll also have to offer something to them, something they value. Think of commercial broadcasting, in which you get free entertainment in exchange for listening to (and sometimes responding to) commercials.

4. What message content will motivate them to act? What subjects will prompt them to act? For effective communication, look for topics that engage and motivate readers or listeners.

5. How will you present that content? There are several editorial choices that affect effective communication: entertaining, informing, consulting, challenging, and solving problems.

6. How often will you have to repeat the message? In many cases, you'll need multiple contacts to get the response you want. Sales people, for example, generally figure on an average of seven contacts before a prospect becomes a client or potential client.

7. Will you get enough revenue to cover the cost of communicating (if you put numbers to your objectives)? In a marketing context, for example, how many sales would you have to make to pay the cost of your advertising campaign?

In summary, aim for effective communication by following these seven steps. They move us in the right direction because they force us to think about reader and listener responses. And, when we focus on responses, we're much more likely to get the results we want.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Robert F. Abbott
Robert F. Abbott, is the author of "3 Easy Ways to Power Up Your Writing." Increase your mastery of business communication by reading his easy-to-understand articles at Communicate-with-Confidence.com . Read dozens of articles in several business communication categories.

Workplace Communication

2008-11-27T06:30:00.004-08:00

Workplace Communication: Management's Responsibility
By: Robert F. Abbott

Article Summary: How is good communication at the place you work? Effective workplace communication is only possible when mechanisms exist to move information both up and down within the organization, and management must take responsibility for establishing and maintaining those mechanisms.

Does your company or organization have good, or at least adequate, workplace communication? Do you get the information you need, and do managers get information from you the way they should? In this article we'll take a look at management's responsibility for setting up and maintaining workplace communication.

A few years ago the British Broadcasting Commission aired a series of unique business documentaries titled Back to the Floor. If you're not familiar with the series, it featured real-life Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) who leave their comfortable offices and go work on the front lines of their organizations for a week. Cameras followed the CEOs and recorded their interactions with staff, and their responses to those interactions.

In one episode, the managing director of London's Heathrow Airport took the plunge and worked in customer service for five days. That meant facing customers and dealing with their problems, including problems created by the airport's own management team. As is often the case in other business stories, the critical issue in this episode was workplace communication.

At Heathrow, we saw a CEO taken by surprise, over and over again, as he learned about work life at the front lines. The CEO was rebuked by employees on the front lines, as well as customers. The staff wanted to let him know about the trouble they had because the people at head office weren't listening to them.

And, that gap in workplace communication was a fairly constant refrain in all episodes, as one CEO after another found out he or she doesn't know much about what happens when the organization comes face-to-face with real customers and their needs.

Heathrow is hardly an exception. When I published a communication newsletter, the most frequent reader feedback involved management's failure to listen. Readers made it clear that managers in their organizations did not know what happens in their world, and even more importantly, felt management did not care.

There was also a feeling that individual managers were to blame. However, in my research and experience, it's not a 'moral' failure on the part of individual managers, but rather an institutional failure. In other words, the mechanisms that allow or facilitate workplace communication simply don't exist.

The first step in establishing and maintaining those mechanisms is for management to accept responsibility for them. Unless management takes the initiative, there can be no channels for workplace communication, whether up or down the hierarchy, to flow.

After all, employees can -- and often do -- express their ideas and emotions. But nothing can happen unless someone in management allows it to happen.

For example, in the Heathrow program, the managing director spots some trash in an out-of-the-way spot and calls in a cleanup crew. The customer service manager, who supervised the managing director for the week, chastised him for incurring an expense that wasn't in the budget (an appropriate response because the customer service manager would be chastised by his immediate superior if he had done that). In response, the CEO made a key policy change on the spot (never a good idea); yet what he really needed were mechanisms to get and give information about such problems, and a then policy that stipulated when exceptions could be made.

By creating a mechanism that allowed workers at the front lines to communicate about that kind of problem (trash), he would get both better results and greater employee loyalty.

In summary, effective workplace communication is only possible when mechanisms exist to move information both up and down within the organization, and only management can establish and maintain those mechanisms.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Robert F. Abbott
Robert F. Abbott, who wrote the booklet Communication Flows in Organizations, has written hundreds of business communication articles. To read more of his free workplace communication articles, go to Workplace Communication on the Communicate-with-Confidence website.