ABSTRACT
Communication is an activity which takes place when a message is transferred satisfactorily from one party to another. For communication to take place there has to be a source, transmission through channels and a receiver. Middle managers have to communicate with a wide range of client groups and need to make their chosen style and language (spoken or written) fit for purpose. The Teacher Training Agency spells out the need for effective communication by stating that subject leaders should have ‘the ability to make points clearly and understand the views of others’ (TTA 1998). This phrase is useful as it reminds us that communication should be a two-way exchange; negotiation in communication is often vital if the message is to be fully received, accepted by the parties concerned and acted upon.
