ABSTRACT
Public employees must speak clearly, persuasively, and efficiently when presenting agency budget requests, speaking to legislative committees, or updating officials on a program. Several characteristics distinguish the public from the private sector and affect how communication occurs in agencies. First, public agencies are subject to numerous laws and administrative rules requiring transparency in government operations. Chief among these are mandates for public hearings, an arena in which effective communication skills are vital. Modern public administrators must possess the ability to cooperate with other agencies and to communicate effectively across a variety of public and private contexts. Public administrators need effective communication skills to help their agencies and the publics they serve navigate tough financial times. The Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) define the competencies needed to build a federal corporate culture that drives for results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions within and outside the organization.
