3. Administrators need to consider

3. Administrators need to consider the total physical and human setting. Meaning and intent are conveyed by more than words alone. Many other factors influence the overall impact of a communication, and administrators must be sensitive to the total setting in which they communicate: the circumstances under which an announcement or decision is made; the physical setting, whether the communication is made in private or otherwise; the social climate that pervades work relationships within the department and sets the tone of its communications; custom and practice, the degree to which the communication conforms to, or departs from, the expectations of the audience. Administrators should constantly be aware of the total setting in which they communicate. Like all living things, communication must be capable of adapting to its environment.