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Col Ngoepe shares his 10 principles for better communication
Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, who is retiring after 37 years of service, says one should be well read and informed, be self propelled and always conduct yourself in a professional manner.
POLOKWANE – Retiree Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said the the most important part about being a communicator is keeping the image of his organisation high.
Ngoepe will bid the South African Police Service farewell at the end of the month after 37 years of service, adding that “once a police officer, always a police officer”.
Read more: Just call him Colonel Ngoepe from now on
After 10 years in the police force Ngoepe moved from being the communication’s officer for the Bolodedu police station to the communications division where he worked for the next 27 years.
“You need to remember that you become the face of the organisation. You need to reflect what the organisation stands for and you need to hold yourself in that manner. Always be presentable and accessible. Balancing your personal life and your work life is important. You need to remember that even if you are off duty, people will most likely still associate you with your employer.”
He says the best part of his work is going to the scene of a crime and drafting a press release from there.
His prior work as a detective made it easier to draft the statement in a manner that gives off enough information without tampering with evidence or information crucial to the investigation.
He added that it is also important for communicators to respect the deadlines of the journalists they are working with and to communicate when there are any delays.
Ngoepe says he has always aligned his work on the following principles:
• Be passionate about your work and what you are reporting on. • Have unconditional commitment to your work. • Ensure to give our a quality production each time. • Always conduct yourself in a professional manner. • Be honest and realistic about what you are reporting on. • Don’t compete or imitate the work of others. • Be well read and well informed. • Follow up on your queries and stay up to date. • Clarify and rumours and set the record straight. • Be innovative, keep on developing yourself and be self propelled.
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