How can the transactional model of communication help community organizers build relationships?

2 How can the transactional model of communication help you understand your audience?

As a community organizer, it is essential to consider the context, feedback, noise, and relationship when communicating with various audiences, such as potential supporters, allies, opponents, media, and policymakers. Each of these groups have their own needs, interests, values, and expectations which must be taken into account when crafting your message. To do so, you should ask yourself what the situation is and what the goal of your communication is. Additionally, you should be aware of how your audience responds to your communication and adjust accordingly. It is also important to identify any barriers or distractions that could interfere with your communication and work to minimize them. Finally, you should strive to establish and maintain a positive relationship with your audience. By taking these factors into account, you can tailor your communication for maximum impact and achieve your desired outcomes.

4 How can the transactional model of communication help you engage your audience?

As a community organizer, your communication should not only inform, but also inspire, mobilize, and empower your audience. To ensure they feel connected, involved, and committed to your cause, you should consider the transactional model of communication. This model encourages you to think about the interaction between you and your audience, how you make sense of the communication, and how the communication affects each other. For instance, how do you initiate and maintain dialogue with your audience? How do you acknowledge different perspectives? How do you persuade or challenge them? By focusing on these aspects, you can engage your audience to be more attentive, responsive, and supportive.

5 How can the transactional model of communication help you evaluate your communication?

As a community organizer, you need to communicate continuously and effectively to achieve your goals. To do this, you must monitor and assess your communication in order to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. The transactional model of communication can help you evaluate your communication by prompting reflection on the outcome, feedback, and improvement of your communication. You should consider the result or impact of your communication, the feedback you receive from your audience or other sources, and the areas that you need to improve or change in your communication. With this evaluation, you can become more effective, efficient, and adaptable in your communication.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?