How well we communicate is determined not by how well we say things but by how well we are understood.
Andrew Grove, CEO Intel
Communications are vital to all work and career decision-making. If vision, mission, values, culture, goals, plans, policies, and procedures are not uniformly understood, then they won’t be followed. It all comes down to understandable communications. It’s that simple. Poor decisions are made. Processes won’t work. Projects aren’t completed. Deficient products are produced. And, ultimately unhappy customers won’t purchase products or services.
Good communications starts with good listening. The problem is we’re talking more and listening less. No wonder communication, or the lack of it, hampers our work effectiveness and even relationship happiness. Many of us have read John Gray’s Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus. The solution to all relationships comes down to good communication, particularly listening.
We may remember as little as 25% of what we heard in the last two days. Poor listening is also risky! Poor listening resulted in the 1977 runway collision at Tenerife Airport in the Canary Islands, resulting in 583 deaths. Poor listening results in the wrong coffee order, poor quality instructions, and even incorrect medical procedures. Can you imagine being scheduled for an appendix removal and lose your lung instead? That would make for a bad appendix day. Such strange things do happen and have resulted in massive medical liability awards. All because of poor communication!
What separates leaders from managers? What separates million dollar a year professionals and consultants from commodity professionals. Strong communications.
Life Lesson Earned: Look at the professionals who are at the top tier of your profession. They are usually authors and public speakers. They are great communicators.