Thoughts on: communication By Chuck Morris Now think how delivery of an important
No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.
piece of information may sound to others
would sound different each time. Would
– Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
when it could be affected by one of the mood-altering changes suggested above. It the message be clear to your audience? It might; but I daresay it could be filled with
Communication is key to everything we do
Look around you and think about the in-
ambiguity – especially if one of these af-
in our life! Be it at home or in the work-
teraction between you and those to whom
fected your train of thought minutes be-
place, transferring ideas from one person
you report; and then evaluate how com-
fore addressing staff.
to another is vital to progress. How that
munication works between you and those
Look around your workplace and you
is accomplished sometimes leaves a lot to
who report to you. Is it open and is it fair?
will discover many forms of communi-
be desired, however. Many of the differ-
Do you involve staff when you communi-
cation taking place on a daily basis. Take
ent methods of delivery are affected by a
cate with them; or is your delivery more
note; how often do we witness non-verbal
number of crucial factors. For example, a
like you are directing them to do some-
communication, a wink, raised eyebrow
person whose demeanour is controlled by
thing? Effective communication, even if it
or grunt; informal communication such as
emotion may try to get a message across
is in the form of directives to staff, can be
idle chatter or whispering to one another;
before they have all the facts themselves;
delivered in a fashion in which staff feel
formal communication such as at a board
they are only responding the way they do
relaxed, as opposed to being on guard for
meeting, a letter written in a style that is
because of passionate feelings about the
the entire duration.
evident it is meant to be formal; commu-
topic. Conversely, there are many people
The way you communicate is affected
nication through body language, crossed
who may be an expert within their field
by a multitude of factors. Has your day
arms.
who have absolutely no skill-set to engage
not gone as well as you had hoped? Did
We need to know the differing styles of
an audience with any type of discourse,
your idea for improvements just get the
communication and we need to know how
let alone the topic they may need to be
nod from the CEO? Do you typically come
it affects others. We must understand the
discussing.
across as a negative or a positive person?
smallest of nuances when communicating because those tiny little voice inflections, the slight grimace, hesitation, hedging on delivering the “real” message can all affect the final outcome. That outcome had better be the one that was planned for. If it is not, you have failed. Usually communication is in response to a series of events. That could be an idea from yourself, senior management, new
Burnaby (Head Of ce)
Coquitlam
Victoria
Phone: (604) 435-1313
Phone: (604) 944-0441
Phone: (250) 475-6055
3958 Myrtle Street Burnaby, BC V5C 4G2
Fax: (604) 435-7677 Email: bursales@rsl.ca
2394 Canoe Ave Coquitlam, BC V3K 6C2 Fax: (604) 944-0450 Email: coqsales@rsl.ca
524E Culduthel Road Victoria, BC V8Z 1G1
Fax: (250) 475-1985 Email: vicsales@rsl.ca
Vancouver
Langley
Kelowna
Phone: (604) 872-7521
Phone: (604) 539-2290
Phone: (250) 763-3114
132 West 2nd Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 1C2 Fax: (604) 872-7460 Email: vansales@rsl.ca
#102 – 6375 202nd Street Langley, BC V2Y 1N1 Fax: (604) 539-2295 Email: lansales@rsl.ca
government directives or legislation, or a response to staff. Whatever that communication is, it is absolutely imperative that you understand what it means before you
1885 Baron Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6W2
craft any sort of response. Covey’s Habit
Fax: (250) 861-1546 Email: kelsales@rsl.ca
no. 5: “Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood” (from The Seven Habits
Distributing Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heating Parts and Equipment to the HVAC and Refrigeration Trade.
of Highly Effective People) screams out at all of us an easy resolution to delivering a great message or response. Understand
40
Ops Talk • Spring 2012
