Explain Empathy and Dialogues as elements of Public Relations.

Empathy — Empathy means looking at things and events from the other person's point of view. It requires that the communicator be in tune with the communicatee.

1. Understanding Others — A good speaker should know the emotions and sentiments of his audience.

2. Sensitive and Sympathetic — Empathy enables an executive to be sensitive and sympathetic to the attitudes, expectations and problems of workers and clients.

3. Different from Sympathy — Empathy is feeling with the other person, whereas sympathy means feeling sorry for the other person.

4. Improves Relationships — Empathy fosters greater understanding and improves relationship with the client.

5. You Attitude — Empathy can be created in communications by adopting the 'you attitude' — using 'You' instead of 'I' and 'We' in written and spoken communication.

Dialogue — Dialogue means a conversation between two persons with a purpose. If a person goes on talking without allowing others to participate in the discussion, it becomes a monologue.

1. Weapon of Reasoning — In a civilised society, dialogue is the only weapon of reasoning and understanding.

2. Open and Two-way Communication — To create awareness and appreciation of the policies, programmes and performance of a company, one must maintain open and two-way communication with the public.

3. Reduces Prejudice — Dialogue helps reduce prejudice and builds up mutual confidence between the organisation and its publics.

4. Requires Respect — Effective dialogue requires impartial listening, understanding, respect for each other's opinions, faith, goodwill and a measure of generosity.

5. Asking Questions — A good way to start a dialogue is by asking questions and listening to the answers. It requires a topic about which the participants are informed.