What is Public Relations?

Diantara begitu banyak peristiwa yang terjadi di Indonesia sepanjang tahun lalu, kejadian satu ini bisa dianggap sebagai yang paling mengejutkan bagi dunia kehumasan. Seorang public relations officer sebuah mal elit di Jakarta memberikan pernyataan kontroversial seputar kejadian bunuh diri yang dilakukan seorang pria di tempatnya bekerja. Alih-alih berempati dan melontarkan kalimat yang menentramkan, ia justru secara gamblang menyesalkan kejadian tersebut dan menyalahkan sang pelaku yang memilih lokasi mal tersebut untuk menjalankan aksinya.

Pernyataan kontroversial dan dianggap tidak sensitif ini menjadi besar dan disayangkan oleh berbagai pihak. Kebanyakan beranggapan bahwa komentar bernada sarkastik tersebut tidak pantas dilayangkan oleh seorang public relations, yang notabene mewakili citra perusahaan yang kebetulan terlibat dalam kejadian itu. Hasilnya, masyarakat mulai mempertanyakan kompetensi sang PR yang dinilai bertindak gegabah dalam menghadapi krisis yang tengah melanda perusahaannya. Kematangan berpikir, ketelitian mengolah kata-kata, dan cara komunikasi yang baik tampaknya tidak dipraktekkan oleh si public relation officer ketika menghadapi media.

Public relations, sekalipun sering disamakan dengan humas, namun memiliki perbedaan dalam deskripsi pekerjaannya. Tugas seorang PR ternyata jauh lebih luas dari sekedar berhadapan dengan klien ataupun media. Menurut Edward L. Berneys dalam bukunya yang berjudul "Public Relations", seorang PR memiliki tiga fungsi yaitu: sebagai pemberi informasi kepada publik, secara persuasif menjadi pengubah sikap dan tingkah laku publik terhadap lembaga/perusahaan demi kepentingan kedua belah pihak, dan sebagai pengintegrasi antara sikap dan perbuatan lembaga dengan sikap publik dan sebaliknya. Intinya seorang PR bertanggung jawab membina dan menjaga hubungan baik dengan publik sehingga tercipta suatu citra positif tentang perusahaan.

Untuk mencapai semua tujuan tersebut, seorang public relations wajib memiliki kemampuan komunikasi yang mumpuni. Ada lima unsur dalam proses komunikasi yang harus dikuasai: source/communicator (orang yang menjadi sumber, bisa pejabat yang berwenang/dirinya sendiri); message (pesan yang akan disampaikan); channel (media/sarana penyampaian pesan), target audience (kelompok penerima pesan); dan effect (dampak yang terjadi pada diri komunikan setelah menerima pesan).

Dalam kasus diatas, rupanya public relations officer tersebut tidak memikirkan target audience (keluarga korban dan masyarakat) dan efek pernyataannya terhadap publik.

Kesalahan yang dilakukan seorang PR bisa berbuah petaka bagi image perusahaan. Pernyataan yang dikeluarkan PR dianggap mewakili sikap perusahaan terhadap suatu kondisi/hal. Oleh karena itu penyampaiannya pun harus tepat dengan mengedepankan aspek-aspek mutual understanding antara kedua belah pihak.

Sebelum menghakimi dan melabeli seorang PR dengan sebutan baik atau buruk, ada baiknya mengetahui apa-apa saja yang diperlukan untuk menjadi seorang good PR seperti disarikan dari sebuah resume yang ditulis oleh Daniel Buana berikut ini:

1. Kemampuan berkomunikasi.

Dan ini tidak terbatas pada komunikasi verbal namun juga tulisan bahkan visual. Seorang PR harus fasih berkomunikasi dalam berbagai jenis media, misalnya saat presentasi, wawancara, dialog, membuat berita/artikel/press release, dan lain sebagainya. Tujuannya untuk menjalankan fungsinya sebagai penyampai informasi atau komunikator. Ia harus tahu bagaimana memperlakukan media sesuai dengan karakteristik, target audience, dan efek yang akan hasilkan pada komunikan (penerima pesan).

2. Kemampuan manajerial/kepemimpinan.

Hal ini penting untuk menterjemahkan visi dan misi dari manajemen tertinggi. Ia harus tahu seluk beluk perusahaan, mengerti tingkah laku dan memperhatikan konsumen, karyawan dan kelompok lain yang berkepentingan dengan tugasnya sebagai penghubung. Seringkali PR dihadapkan pada situasi krisis yang membutuhkan respon cepat dan tepat. Diperlukan kematangan berpikir dan kecepatan bertindak untuk bisa meng-handle keadaan secara tenang dan elegan. Jiwa leadership juga diperlukan untuk melakukan koordinasi antar pihak-pihak yang terkait.

3. Kemampuan bergaul dan membina relasi.

Fleksibilitas dalam menghadapi berbagai jenis kepribadian dan kemampuan berinteraksi dengan orang-orang dari berbagai tingkatan. Termasuk juga memanfaatkan networking untuk mendapatkan informasi yang dibutuhkan layaknya seorang detektif. Kepandaian bergaul juga penting untuk membangun opini positif terhadap perusahaan sehingga tercipta hubungan saling percaya. Diperlukan orang-orang dengan tipe kepribadian extrovert untuk bisa menjalankan tugas ini.

4. Kepribadian yang jujur dan kredibel.

Seorang PR haruslah orang yang bisa dipercaya. Apa yang dikatakannya harus dilandasi oleh fakta dan bukan sekedar pemanis demi menaikkan popularitas perusahaannya. Informasi yang diberikan harus akurat dan cukup penting untuk diketahui masyarakat. Selain itu, dalam menjalankan tugasnya ia harus mematuhi etika dan menjunjung tinggi moralitas. Sekalipun tugasnya adalah menjaga image perusahaannya tetap positif di mata publik, namun tidak lantas membuat PR merasa berhak menjatuhkan pihak lain yang berseberangan dengannya. Selayaknya PR membuat pernyataan yang netral, objektif, simpatik, dan memperhatikan nilai-nilai kemanusiaan.

5. Kreatif dan kaya ide.

Memiliki wawasan yang luas dengan kemampuan berpikir kreatif serta kritis sangat diperlukan terutama untuk menghadapi berbagai masalah yang membutuhkan alternatif-alternatif penyelesaian. Seorang PR juga harus pandai membaca peluang dan melihat celah dimana ia bisa meningkatkan keunggulan perusahaannya di depan publik. Kemampuan menciptakan strategi baru untuk memperluas hubungan antara perusahaan dengan publik pun menjadi sebuah kriteria yang penting untuk dimiliki oleh seorang PR 

General Affair Tasks

It is almost in every company there will be a division called “General Parts/Division”. This is also obviously called as General Affair.

In Indonesia, GA’s tasks are unique; they are, for example would be dealing with company’s licenses, building’s treatment, company’s stationery, company’s service vehicle, electrical, telephone, and water pump installation and so on. The most unique is dealing with toilet problem. Therefore, in this matter of time, I would like to share about the theory and practical view related to General Affair’s tasks.

General Affair and Human Resource Tasks

People might be confused related to GA and HRD, is it the same or different? Some people say that it is different while others say that it is the same. People who utter the same, usually it is because they have GA and HRD in the same division or department. Here, HR staff is also as GA, and vice versa. Why this happen? It is because they are in the same department, which exist, named as HRGA department. To limit the cost and salary, several companies would practice this. Also, in a small company, which does not have big profit will conjure the same.

Hence, some people also utter HR and GA is different, why? It is because they have very known or believed that both of GA and HR job descriptions are not the same. There must be divided to focus on its’ own advancement. This will occur in a medium to large company, which posses a lot of employees.

Let us see deepen how the practice of HR and GA in a company occurred, and still in one department.

Generally, HR and GA assignments are divided according to each job descriptions. Let us say in HRGA department, there are five employees; one manager, two supervisors, and two officers/staffs. HRGA manager then classified each task to his four subordinates, one supervisor deal with GA, one supervisor deal with HR, either with the officers or staffs. From this point, we may clearly see, although they are in the same department, HRGA department, the actual job descriptions are divided to each HR and/or GA part. Let us say, Galih deals with GA, then all his mates would say Galih is a GA officer, while the other; for example, Memed deals with HR. Then, people would say Memed is a HR officer.

In several companies, there are still unification between Human Resource and General Affair, but others have completely divided it. Why this should be divided? Obviously, it is because of the tasks, works, and responsibilities between HR and GA are completely different. Human Resource is more dealing to take care employees and quality training, while General Affair is more concerning with “inanimate objects” or facilities, such as; company’s parking lot, toilet, roof, air conditioner, cars, office’s stationary, and so on. Sometimes, HR is not too much or 100% dealing with employees, they ought to deal with documents and licenses; either with GA, who is sometimes dealing to take care to their managers, supervisors, and expatriates if necessary. In a certain situation, their job may be the same.

Because this article focuses on what GA concern in a company, there are some brief descriptions related to it, they are:

1. To administer official vehicles (cars, motorcycles, etc)
2. To procure official vehicles
3. Building’s treatment
4. Official environment’s treatment (parking lot, office yard, warehouse, etc)
5. The sanitation of work environment (Work room, meeting room, lobby, and all the official areas)
6. Providing treatments and Procuring electrical installation (Mechanical dan electrical)
7. Dealing with every licenses
8. Providing and dealing with official’s stationary or another work tools (table, chairs, computer, laptop, etc)
9. Providing security to secure the company’s area. (Take care of security)
10. Corresponding and co-relation to external party (Government, Police, Public)
11. Taking care of every company’s operational needs.
12. Taking care and maintaining relationship with outsourcing company.
13. Taking care of outsourcing employee (office boys, securities, drivers, receptionists, etc)
14. Taking care and providing operational needs related to communication property (telephone, fax, etc)
15. Taking care of pantry, kitchen or canteen (if it is exist)

From the explanation above, it is really wide and diverse related to General Affair’s tasks. The example above is also not always the same in particular companies, there may be some different or perhaps many more tasks that are given to GA.

This source is taken from:                      

http://www.hrd-forum.com/tugas-general-affair/

Translated and edited to English by Galih Ariffansyah

Jasa Translate Online

Selamat malam guys, mau iklan sebentar aja ya. Baru dibuka nih jasa translate tugas/pekerjaan yang sedang kalian butuhkan (mungkin). Sebelumnya pasti kalian pernah kan menggunakan jasa translate online seperti google translate, yup fasilitas dari google yang satu itu memang sangat membantu dalam mengartikan bahasa. Namun guys, translate menggunakan mesin seperti itu tidak selamanya akurat dalam menerjemahkan, baik itu berupa kosakata maupun struktur bahasanya. Biasanya kita kebingungan dibuatnya karena ya memang tugas google translate hanya menerjemahkan kata sampai dengan paragraf yang kalian input. Mereka cenderung keliru dalam memperbaiki struktur kata, kalimat, maupun paragraf yang kalian input dengan benar. 

Kebayang kan kalau mau menerjemahkan makalah, abstrak skripsi/thesis tiba-tiba struktur katanya semerawut. Pastinya nanti sulit dipahami. Maka dari itu, kami saat ini sedang membuka jasa translate online yang pastinya akan membantu kalian untuk menerjemahkan.

Mekanisme nya seperti ini, silahkan hubungi aja kontak kami pada gambar diatas, setelah itu kalian silahkan kirim file yang mau ditranslate ke alamat e-mail kami (nanti diinfokan alamat email tsb ketika kalian berminat). Oh ya guys, kalau yang ditranslate cuma satu halaman full (font times new roman, uk 12), satu hari bisa selesai lho! Apalagi abstract. 

Jadi, berminat?

Lecture-Based Teaching Style

As technology advances and becomes more capable, there are many new teaching styles coming into play. There's a lot of 'new and improved' to be seen, but it's important to remember that sometimes, newer isn't always better.

The Natural Flow of Lecture-Based Teaching

The word 'lecture' has gotten a bad rap over the years, but in truth, a traditional lecture is still one of the most effective and natural ways of conveying information, and it has stood the test of time through all conceivable models of teaching, across generations, cultures, and ideologies.

We repeatedly turn to lectures because they work. When students settle into a lecture--not in a state of boredom or annoyance, but attentive listening and willingness to learn--the lecture model provides a steady flow of information that students can learn and grow from. By allowing themselves to become immersed in the words of their educators, students activate a powerful mental state that opens them up to retaining new ideas, contemplating the presented information, and expanding their own thinking processes.

The uninterrupted nature of lectures creates a momentum within the subject at hand. Providing students with the setting for a lecture, and then delivering it effectively, helps to prevent distractions from learning and generate the momentum necessary to really make a message stick.

A Tried and True Method

Lectures aren't a new concept. In fact, they are arguably one of our oldest modes of education. And even with technology sweeping the world and creating new opportunities, certain staples of human interaction will always have value.

While advancements are constantly being made in both devices and teaching styles, and while many of these new programs are incredibly beneficial to students and teachers, it's important not to discard traditional teaching methods simply because they are older. There are many benefits to teaching via lecture. For example:

• The model of having an expert discuss their field at length provides students with a solid foundation for their own learning
• A 2010 study from Harvard's Kennedy School showed that students who received lectures learned more than peers exposed to other methods of classroom teaching
• Establishing the professor as the expert not only allows tremendous information sharing, but also lets students know exactly who to turn to if they have trouble understanding the material.

Lectures are even cited as capitalizing on human nature to improve learning by providing verbal instruction from an authority figure in real-time. Lectures have proven time and again to be a positive and powerful teaching method, and succeed where other methods--like small-group discussion or independent study--fall short.

What Makes Lectures Powerful?

Lecturing, like all teaching methods, is an art and a science. One does not simply stand at a podium and ramble--that is not educating. A successful lecture is like a speech; it is structured, organized, clear, easy to follow, and provides actionable steps for the listener. A good lecture doesn't tell a student what to think of a subject, but instead guides them to examine the topic on their own, to come at it with their unique perspectives, and to discuss these concepts openly so that answers can be found and insights gained.

They also provide steps that the class can take after hearing the lecture to deepen their understanding, implement their new knowledge, and make what they learned part of their lives in a real, viable way.

How to Create Effective Lectures

The first element of an effective lecture is knowing who you're speaking to. A history lesson for third graders is going to be very different from a history lesson for third-year college students. Tailor your lecture specifically to the people you'll be speaking to. Keep in mind the key components of a lecture, and use these guidelines to establish flow:

Before the Lecture

• Start with an outline of key points you want to cover--try to keep it to five or fewer so you and your students don't lose focus or get lost in the lecture.
• Practice a solid intro and conclusion to effectively introduce, and then wrap up, the main elements of the lecture. You want to be sure you have the flow, energy, and confidence to present a great lecture.
• Look for creative, engaging, or even entertaining (depending on your personal style) ways to emphasize important information. Keeping things fun and light can mean better participation and retention from students, as they'll genuinely enjoy the class.

While You're Presenting

• Share your outline with students beforehand so they can follow along.
• Do your best to speak naturally, rather than reading verbatim from notes. Make eye contact and speak more conversationally--it's more effective than just reciting a script.
• Adjust your speaking speed to fit the material (complex or simple?) and mood of the class (are they taking lots of notes, or listening?); clear, slower speech is most easily absorbed.
• Engage students by asking questions, allowing moments where they can contribute their personal knowledge or experiences, and pause at certain moments to allow information to really sink in.
• Incorporate other teaching styles into your lecture; have visual aids, audio or video clips, or even physical props to support your point.

In short, learn to enjoy the art of crafting a beautiful lecture, and give the passion you have for teaching to creating presentations your students will love.

Keeping Lectures Alive

Whether it's a lecture in a packed classroom or a video lecture viewed on a smartphone from another country, students benefit greatly from well-prepared lectures given by passionate teachers. No matter what other resources are provided--articles, forums, shared notes, studies, or documentaries--there will always be value in receiving a lecture from a teacher who you can later interact with, ask follow-up questions of, or simply discuss the lecture material with.

Modern students may benefit greatly from the educational advancements coming from the digital age, but nothing will ever replace the effectiveness of a passionate teacher delivering a powerful lecture.

By Elena Jacob in study.com

March 2017