How many workplace issues are introduced to you as, "We've got a communication problem?"
"Communication" Doesn't Communicate
Communication is a catch-all phrase. It's generic, socially acceptable, and really just sends the signal that someone wants to start a conversation. But it probably won't end up being about communication.
Psychologists and counselors refer to these kinds of introductory pronouncements as "presenting" problems." They're a call for help when someone doesn't know what to do or may not even be aware of the real issue.
Unless you know the genuine issue, you can spend a lot of time creating an elegant solution for the wrong problem.
In organizations, communication is the #1 presenting problem.
The next time someone lays a communication issue on you, follow through with:
"That sounds interesting. Help me out. Describe specifically what you see happening and why it's a problem."
You may discover that the Marketing group refused to follow guidelines from Research and ended up slightly misrepresenting a product.
You don't yet know the cause. But you do know the real situation and where to focus your energy.
How many presenting problems can you uncover today?
If this was helpul, you might also learn from: Use The Right Words At Work
To add to that communication is also cultural system of blocks. For example in order for sales to talk to engineering about a customer request they must go through project specifications, who have to fill out 3 forms that are submitted to the engineering supervisor, who then must read the request and send a new form to the lead engineer of that project, who then must re-submit an action plan that goes back up this crazy chain.
Communication problems are generally a situation problem to environment / situation is making it troublesome for the information to move.
Posted by: michael cardus | May 28, 2010 at 08:05 AM