Communication Skills Course For Public Servants

July 31, 2020

In May, in accordance with the ongoing COVID-19 related situation, the PAR Visibility & Communication project experts started conducting trainings aimed at improving participants’ communication skills with the emphasis on skills needed during crisis communication, using NAPA’s Cisco Webex training tool. The training course consisted of 3 modules designed to enhance the participants’ communication skills in the following:

Emotional intelligence and behaviour in crisis situation,
Internal communication and steps towards effective crisis communication,
Developing press releases and one-minute news.

The target group of the training were the employees in public administration institutions who are working as PR/communication specialists. The trainings were conducted in accordance with the training plan agreed with NAPA: each training consisting of the 3 training modules was delivered for a total of 4 groups (with maximum 25 participants) during the period 14 May – 11 June.

All 4 training groups had the maximum allowed number of participants and the groups filled up with registered participants very quickly. The participants were asked to evaluate the trainings and the results (according to NAPA evaluation reports) demonstrate a high level of participant satisfaction: the average performance assessment for conducted training modules was 3.87 (with the maximum possible score 4).

To give you a more specific insight into these training sessions, here is an excerpt from a Module 3 course: Project experts provide an example of a poorly prepared and realised media statement:

Continuing this role play, the participants are then given an example of a properly prepared and executed statement:

Furthermore, the project team also conducted trainings on the Internal and External Communication in cooperation with and as part of NAPA mandatory programme designed for managers. 49 managerial level public servants have participated in two trainings in June.