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PIG PEN
By CSP C&IIB Steve Chandler
I've received emails recently from colleagues who asked how I talked the OffBeat Editor into letting me write a column each month, and get the Editorial Committee to accept and print my work. Apparently, they had all submitted articles over the years but none were printed.
A very interesting and important question, but alas, every three articles I write, only one makes it to print. Which brings me to the subject of this month's missive - communication.
A relative says communication is the key to a good marriage and a successful business. Why then, I thought, has he had a number of marriages and businesses fail? I came to the conclusion he knows what to do but isn't good at doing it. I know what to do to communicate well, as I am sure you do, but are we good at it? How many times have we cursed people for not following our direction, and not thought about how we expressed our requirements? Our minds might be well ahead of our mouths and a simple instruction is misunderstood.
"How many times have we cursed people for not following our direction, and not thought about how we expressed our requirements? Our minds might be well ahead of our mouths and a simple instruction is misunderstood"
A few years ago my mother said she would only buy useful Christmas presents. I told her I was about to buy a new jigsaw for a desk I wanted to make. I was told I would get one for X'mas.
When X'mas Day arrived, I tore it open and found a note from my mum - "I hope you like complicated scenes, it's 5,000 pieces and should take a full weekend to make." How could I cut wood with this?
On refection, we both communicated well and understood I wanted a jigsaw. What we did not do was listen to the feedback and confirm we knew exactly what each was thinking and expected. I believe the greatest problem we have as professionals is we assume our colleagues are always on the same wavelength. We never check to see if we are giving the wrong or unintended perception of what it is we want.
Another problem is we consider ourselves outstanding communicators because that's what we do all day - talk to people. We never consider the possibility it could be a 'chicken talking to a duck'. Just because they have two wings, a beak, feathers and lay eggs does not mean that they understand each other. Each lives in its own world and has different concerns. My mum knew what a jigsaw was and that I needed one. However, the product of our conversation was not what either of us wanted or intended.
To be a good communicator at home and work, I need to consider the information I'm passing (including body language), and ask myself whether people perceive the message as I intended. I can communicate better by taking more time to consider how I can get feedback and then act on it. Those still wondering how this missive answers the question of why some articles from other writers never see the printed page and only one in three of mine - "Chickens talking to a Duck".