“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves” (Ray Kroc).
Many persons are, with good reason, of the view that personal attitudes and conduct are in a state of decay in Anguilla. While older generations tend to blame members of the younger generations for today’s social failings, an objective assessment of attitudes and conduct, regularly portrayed in Anguilla, reveals that the negative attitudes and conduct displayed are not confined to any particular generation of Anguillians. Many of us consistently fail to set and maintain high standards.
In society one generally expects to be able to look to certain individuals and institutions to lead the way in setting high standards that others will seek to achieve and maintain. In Anguilla, government related entities are often expected to set such high standards, particularly as they relate to the content and timeliness of communications. The Anguilla Public Service, therefore, comes under higher scrutiny in this context. The Public Service can legitimately boast of having a cadre of highly qualified and experienced persons in its employment. When these persons fail to deliver at the level expected of persons with the qualifications and experience they boast of, it is taken to be a reflection of the low standards they have set for themselves or the departments or ministries they represent.
The Governor’s Office, as well as many departments and ministries of the Government of Anguilla, make regular use of social media, particularly Facebook, to communicate their activities, plans and accomplishments. This is commendable as it serves to ensure a wider reach, particularly among persons who are unlikely to access traditional media outlets. Sadly, it often appears that because more informal media is being utilised, little attention is paid to the need to ensure the use of proper grammar and spelling. If institutions such as the Governor’s Office and ministries and departments of government fail to ensure that certain standards are upheld in their communications, it tends to justify, in the minds of some, the casual manner in which others construct and disseminate official communications.
Government related communications are expected to contain correct information about official matters. Ministerial portfolios should not be incorrectly stated by these entities. ‘Coronation Avenue’ should not be stated as ‘Carnation Avenue’. Education institutions should not mistakenly use ‘principle’ for ‘principal’.
Social media is often frequented by young and impressionable persons who cannot be faulted for assuming the correctness of the information, grammar and spelling contained in the postings of government related entities. It would be helpful if those who lead government related entities assumed their responsibility to set and maintain high standards of communication with their stakeholders. Their responsibility does not end with the content of communications but must also be assumed in relation to the timeliness of such communications. Too often we hear of instances of long delays suffered by individuals who are engaging with public officials. These delays are often unexplained and when a response is received it may not be reflective of the length of time taken to respond. While standards have been set by the Public Service in terms of the timing of responses such standards are certainly not honoured.
The failings of government related entities to set and/or maintain high standards, with respect to communications, is of great concern in light of the significantly high level of interaction between members of the public and these entities. The senior officials in the Anguilla Public Service are clearly well positioned to assume leadership roles in terms of promoting more effective communication skills among the general populace.
The Anguillian, as a media entity, recognizes the leadership role it can and should play in promoting effective communication and willingly assumes that responsibility. It, therefore, encourages its readers to bring any errors to its attention and it will use that information to improve its publications. The Anguillian hope that others, who have a similar leadership role, will be receptive to persons highlighting shortcomings in their communications so that they can set, and or maintain, higher standards of communication and, by doing so, improve the quality of their leadership.
