.: Why Communicate When Nothing Happens?
Category:Home / Business / Management
Not long ago, after consultations with others in an association I represent, I made a partnership pitch to another organization with similar interests. If the idea had been accepted, it would have radically changed our organizations.
So, you can imagine my impatience when I didn't hear back from the person to whom I'd made the proposal. She had welcomed the idea, but a decision would be made by a council within her organization.
Given the importance of the decision to their organization, I didn't expect a quick response. But, I would have liked at least a phone call saying the council had accepted, rejected, or was still considering the idea.
Then, I had a "Eureka" or maybe I should call it a "Whoops" moment. I realized I hadn't reported back to the people in my organization either. That made me guilty of the same lapse of communication as the lady in the other organization. With that recognition, I made amends by sending out an email and followed up with a report at a meeting.
In taking an analytical view of this incident, I realized that nothing can be something when it comes to communication.
The idea that nothing can be something seems counter- intuitive. But, you may remember the famous Sherlock Holmes' observation about the dog that didn't bark (the fictitious detective solved a baffling case by noting what did not happen, rather than what did happen).
You can probably come up with several ideas about the importance of communicating, too, even though nothing has changed. That's especially true if you're the one who didn't hear from someone else.
First, you may have made plans that assume either a change or a continuation of the status quo. Perhaps you're holding off on holiday plans until the issue is resolved one way or the other.
Second, at least you know an anticipated decision or event hasn't yet occurred, and that you didn't miss something (for example, as I write this I'm waiting for a client to confirm some information and it would be nice to know that I haven't missed a callback or an emailed reply).
Third, if you've received an update telling you nothing has happened, you don't need to contact that person and ask if there have been any developments. Similarly, you can advise the people who look to you for information.
One other note: This might be a variation on what I call the Everybody Knows syndrome. That's a decision not to communicate, based on the assumption that others know what I know. For example, I might not tell anyone the office will be closed between Christmas Day and New Year's Day because I think everyone should know that, which is likely a bad assumption on my part.
In summary, if the issue is important, communicate frequently, even if nothing has happened. Something is nothing when you or others wait impatiently for news.
Article keywords: communication, barriers to communication, failure to communicate
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Robert F. Abbott, the author A Manager's Guide to Newsletters: Communicating for Results, writes and publishes Abbott’s Communication Letter, a free newsletter that helps you enhance your career through improved business communication. Discover more here: www.abbottletter.com
.: New Management Articles
1). Business Liquidators Can Make Difficult Time Easier For Business Owners
If your business is in trouble and the only way out is to go out of business or to sell inventory, a business liquidators company might make all the difference. This article gives you tips on how to use one.
2). Business Coach: Is Your Website Search Engine Friendly to Increase Sales
The main objective of business coaching is to help a business owner create a distinctive business plan. It can operate in any segment of commerce, from a traditional business setup to a business start-up and even e-business.
3). The Basic Tools of Business Coaching
Business coaching has evolved over the years, owing to the changing demands around the world. Business coaching has opened a myriad of opportunities to people aspiring to pursue a self-motivated career.
4). The Psychological Aspect to Executive Coaching
Business coaching is an essential element of the business world and has provided a baffling range of career options today.
5). The Evidence Based Approach to Business Coaching
In order to coach successfully, you need to employ tried and tested coaching methods and tools. You can achieve the desired results and performance in the workplace with established coaching techniques.
6). The Transition from Manager to Coach
In the present fast paced world, where almost every organization and business firm employs educated personnel and a trained workforce, there hardly seems to be an urgent need for managers.
7). What Makes Executives Desire Coaching
Business owners, executives and managers move up the corporate ladder, based on their individual technical skills.
.: Top Management Articles
1). EQ vs. IQ: Why Do Smart People Fail?
First we need to understand that emotional intelligence (EQ) is not the opposite of the intelligence quotient (IQ); EQ is actually complementary to IQ resembled in academic intelligence and cognitive skills, and studies actually show that our emotional states affect the way our brain functions as well as its processing speed (Cryer qtd. in Kemper). Studies have even shown that Albert Einstein's superior intellectual ability may have been linked to the part of the brain that supports psychological functions, dubbed the amygadla.
2). Infopreneur: The “No Risk” Web Entrepreneur
You may be one of a growing multitude seriously thinking of starting a small business. You would like to strike out on your own, but you hesitate to take the plunge. You may not know where to begin and – most likely – you have nothing to sell ... or so you think! Become an “infopreneur” then!
Share What You Know
An “infopreneur” is a pure information provider.
3). Chairing A Meeting The Most effective Way
How many times have you attended a meeting where the only thing that gets decided is the date of the next meeting? Or where one person dominates the meeting? Or the meeting is swamped with trivia or unrelated information?
It is a commonly held assumption that chairing a meeting is simply a matter of reading out the agenda – that is assuming there is an agenda and that the addenda actually covers the topics which are most pertinent to the matter in hand.
4). The Secret To Overcoming Resistance to Change
Mahatma Gandhi stated that no one can oppress you more than you oppress yourself.
I believe this to be true, especially when it comes to change. I have witnessed people, putting up with horrible conditions rather than change. And so, it is no wonder it is considered one of the most difficult things to deal with for a business.
For many people, there is nothing more fearful.
5). Nine Reasons Why Mentoring Matters to You
There are many roles we play or hats we wear in our lives. We are professionals, family members, brothers, sisters, co-workers, leaders, coaches, friends, parents, and neighbors to name just a few. While you may not wear all of the hats I listed, you can likely add several more that I left out! Many of these roles are a given – we don’t have much choice of having the role – they come with being a responsible adult.
6). Conventional business change is the problem not the solution
Since the beginning of business, various methods for operating and developing the business have been identified and refined. These have evolved into the conventional methods that we use today. We improve management and effect business change by adding new conventional methods on the existing methods in place.
We now have a large business change and management improvement industry.
7). 6 Ways to Maximize Learning
Here's how to gain the most from training events.
1) Know what you want
Before the workshop, set learning goals for yourself. What do you want to learn? How can this program help you? What would make you feel that your time was well spent?
2) Ask for what you want
As the program unfolds, ask questions that guide the presentation toward the information that you need.