Communication is a wonderful thing and with today’s technology
it is immediate and free.
~Brad Cisco
Over
the years I have encountered problems in business due to poor communication or
even the lack of it. I find it hard to understand why some businesses fail to
communicate their plans, goals or missions to their employees. Lack of communication creates a vacuum which
is quickly filled with readily available speculation or gossip.
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| Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee |
Professional
courtesy includes good communication skills. I have always said professional
courtesy goes a long way, but the lack of it goes much further and involves
many more people. One person fails to communicate and additional work is
created which involves many people to resolve the problem created by one.
Many
times our family members fail to get their message across. Oscar Winning
actress Emma Thompson, known in recent years for her creation of the Nanny McPhee
stories and movies said, “Any problem,
big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication.
Someone isn't listening.” Oh yes,
listening is a part of communicating. It is the part of communicating we expect
from the other party while we think our part is to speak and make ourselves
clear. It takes both from each party to be successful. That is why we have a
comment and reply button below. We want to hear from you. We do listen.
In recent years we have seen how disastrous
things can become without proper communication. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
said, “As everyone in Louisiana knows,
there was often no communication or coordination between the state and federal
government in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.” What a sad statement
about a time when communication was of utmost importance.
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| Ralph Ellison |
On the opposite end of the scale we
see communication being productive. American author Ralph Ellison made the
statement, “By and large, the critics
and readers gave me an affirmed sense of my identity as a writer. You might
know this within yourself, but to have it affirmed by others is of utmost
importance. Writing is, after all, a form of communication.” Ellison needed the communication from critics and readers to
confirm what he felt inside. We too need the affirmation of others.
If you choose not to write a
vacuum is created, a vacuum which will be filled by the thoughts and stories of
others. As you write practice proper professional courtesy in your craft.
Listen as often as you speak. I don’t think I need to remind you of the two
ears and one mouth analogy. Poor communication can be disastrous while proper
communication can be affirming. Writing is communicating. Stay in touch…
