ON COMMUNICATION

According to the Business Section of ‘New York times’ top executives from Fortune 500 companies rate communications skills as the most important quality for business leaders. In personal life as well, there may be no single thing more important in our efforts to achieve meaningful work and fulfilling relationships than to learn and practice the art of communication. Despite this the struggle to communicate continues!

Let us reflect on how much ‘communication’ has changed. We have seen the introduction of cell phones, pagers, voice mail, e mail, fax, video conferencing and internet chat rooms. Communicating has never been faster or easier! With all of these high tech devices, we can now communicate with just about anyone, anywhere, at any time. But the point is – are we communicating any better?

Plenty of evidence suggests that often we are not. Work places are riddled with conflict, frequently a consequence of poor communication. Misunderstandings occur and misinformation spreads. At work and at home, relationships become strained because of negative communication. Communication gaps at work may lead to reduced productivity and efficiency. Solutions to many unnecessary problems lie in improving our ability to communicate with one another effectively and constructively.

Before computerized transmissions and electronic walkie - talkies, youngsters devised a low tech device : two tin cans tied together by a string. As rudimentary as it is, this tin can toy illustrates the objective of communication – to create a durable connection and keep it intact.

You arrive for work bright and early, ready for a productive day. No sooner have you entered the building than you are accosted by an employee who has a complaint. ‘Well,’ she demands, ‘what are you going to do about it?’ You promise to get back to her later in the day.

You head down the hall towards your office. An employee greets you cheerfully. Another glares and grumbles. ‘I’ve got to talk to him about that attitude,’ you think.

Stopping by the break room for coffee, you notice a few of your staff seated around a table in the corner. ‘Whats up?’ you ask pleasantly, meaning to strike up a friendly conversation. ‘Nothing,’ one of them mumbles. Your surmise something is up, considering how their conversation stopped abruptly when you entered the room.

At your desk, you power on the computer to check your e mails. The usual 107 messages and its only 8.15! You will attend to them later. First you need to check human resources department about getting new resources and arranging an orientation for them. As soon as you pick up the phone to call HR, your boss appears. ‘Need you in a meeting at 9 about the client presentation. Should take about half hour..’ You know better! These ‘about/only’ meetings go on longer than that..