The Power of Communication

One of my favorite aspects of communication is its subjectivity.  It isn’t based on a perfect equation or an exact science.  It isn’t black and white; it’s grey.  It’s vulnerable and hyper sensitive to its environment.  The three basic elements that embody communication:  the sender, the receiver, and the message, can impact each other in unpredictable ways.  I realize I may have just turned off the left-brainers, but stay with me!



Communication is our conduit to understanding.  And whether you label it a “soft skill”; a subjective concept; a grey area; or "fluff", the reality is that it’s vital.  It’s how we build and sustain relationships.  Communication is how companies build their customer base, create alignment among their stakeholders, and persuade potential investors to become committed investors.  Communication is how managers motivate their employees.  Communication is how leaders empower those they are leading.  Most importantly, communication is how we maintain healthy relationships within our personal lives.

Now...nothing I've said so far is counter-intuitive by any means.  Yet, communication challenges is one of the primary reasons our personal relationships suffer; or work groups can't be productive; why many employees feel unsatisfied with their boss; or why many companies struggle to successfully implement organizational changes.

So, what's the big secret to effective communication anyway?  Is it a journey, or a destination?  Sometimes I think it's A; sometimes I think it's B.  Lately, I've been inclined to go with A.  Why...because communication will always be affected by the contextual environment surrounding it.  The way you engage or interact with the individual in relationship 'X' won't necessarily work for the individual in relationship 'Y'.  The way you were able to communicate with co-workers of  project team 'X' may not be effective on project team 'Y'.  In other words, a crucial component of effective communication is knowing your environment.

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Here's a quick preview of my next post:  "Being an effective communicator means being a proactive communicator.  Reactive communicators usually spend a noticeable amount of time cleaning up misunderstandings."

Stay tuned!