The Best, Yet Most Underutilized Tool for Communication There Is

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Comments

[Dean Boyer]

Rosa,

You are so right! I love words...and hate words. Leveling the playing field through definitions has helped me immensely when creating policy and procedure manuals. However, it is during conversations that I find myself being misunderstood because those involved are using their own set of definitions. Thank you for the listening assignment; I could have used that yesterday!

[Rosa Say]

Mahalo Dean, for sharing that observation, for I agree that there are different (and pretty intriguing) variables involved in our conversations.

On the exercise I have suggested, this is also about a *respectful kind of eavesdropping* too, a perking up of managers' ears to help them discover just how much conversation is already going on in the workplace, and tapping in to the possible goldmine it represents.

And by the way, good job on your internal logging of yesterday's lesson-learned! Now today can be Ka lā hiki ola for you - the dawning of a whole new day :)

[Linda]

Hello Rosa,

I just recently discovered your postings. I agree completely about developing a common vocabulary among teams. I have also had some interesting, though unsettling experiences, where in using pretty common words the listener gets completely lost, and feels that they need the message translated for them. This seams to happen more often with executives than any other group. This has happened often enough that I actually have developed the habit of rethinking what I am going to say to use very small words. It can be frustrating for me, but I value my message being heard more then my desire to utilize the vocabulary I have. It never ceases to amaze me how limited ones "active" vocabulary can become.

[Rosa Say]

Aloha Linda, welcome to Talking Story, and thank you so much for sharing your comment with me – it’s so interesting! I wonder if this happens “more often with executives than any other group” because they are (supposedly) the more ‘seasoned’ ones who usually do have a longer history of getting bombarded with both business-speak and posturing by others among their ranks, building an almost cynical, *I need to cautiously question everything* kind of demeanor?

You are wise to value meaning getting conveyed over fancy broadcasting of the message however, and your keen perception with this will surely earn you a terrific reputation as a communicator.

Thank you so much for this food for thought you’ve added.