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Issue 222 - September 2021 |
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The American poet, Robert Frost, said, "Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can't, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep saying it." Ironically, in today's age of instantaneous communication and social media, communication breakdowns are one of the biggest complaints we hear. It's a complex issue with both cause and effect tightly intertwined. In many cases, people don't have the skills to address tough issues with each other. And so, they do it poorly and raise defensiveness in the other person or stir up conflict that can get personal and quite vicious. People are often afraid to speak up because they have seen others who have been ostracized, nudged off the promotion track, ignored, or punished with the least desirable assignments. Compounding communication issues is information overload. German sociologist, Hartmut Rosa, calculates that since pre-modern times, communications have increased by a factor of ten million times and information transmission by ten billion. It's not clear how Rosa delineates information and communication. There is a crucial difference between them. Many managers confuse the two. We're drowning in information, while thirsting for communication. Many managers confuse "communicating" with "dumping information" through e-mail or "death by PowerPoint." This chokes meaningful two-way communication. Everyone is scrambling to frantically clear inboxes or grind through yet another call or meeting. As publisher Malcolm Forbes said, "before you say what you think, be sure you have." Too often, communication quantity is confused with quality, and little time is given to thoughtful conversations. And when the organization's structure is badly designed, and processes or methods for moving information, workflow, products, or customers through it are flawed, all kinds of errors, rework, waste, and frustration build up. People will often look at the resultant mess and say, "We need more communication around here." In fact, they may need less, but they need it to be better! In these cases, "communication problems" are a symptom of underlying disconnects of processes, systems, or organizational structure. This issue looks at two elements of the vast topic of communications: persuasive writing and balancing information and communications. We'll look at how often strong technical or analytical leaders fall into the trap of cold, heartless logic. We're moved much more by our hearts than our heads. Emotionally intelligent leaders use language in powerfully persuasive ways. Highly effective leaders balance information and communication. We'll define and contrast both. Then we'll give you a few communication pathways and principles to help with your balance. The best definition of persuasive communication I've ever heard is "logic on fire." Connecting head and heart is a powerful combination. How's your balance? Inspiring with the Power of Persuasion:
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Information Technology/E-Tools |
Emotional Connection/Communication |
Speaks to the head |
Engages the heart |
Quick and efficient |
Reinforces mutual interests |
Impersonal and tone-deaf |
Builds emotional/personal connections |
Convinces with facts and analysis |
Inspires with stories and examples |
Easy to send negative/angry messages |
Addresses tough issues with courageous conversations |
Broadcast to large groups |
Strengthens teamwork and engagement |
Provides background and updates |
Builds involvement and ownership |
Information Technology is critical today. But too often, it's dehumanizing. We need both IT/E-Tools and emotional connection/communication. Like management processes and people leadership, it's about balance.
From their research with people in more than 100 companies, Harvard professor, Boris Groysberg, and communications consultant, Michael Slind declare that Leadership is a Conversation. "Traditional corporate communication must give way to a process that is more dynamic and more sophisticated. Most important, that process must be conversational [their emphasis]."
Managers talk at people; leaders talk with people. How's your information-communication balance? How do you know?
Leaders bring hope, optimism, and positive action. That's really tough to do while social distancing and facing an uncertain future. We multiply misery if we allow the pessimism plague to infect us as well.
To counter Headline Stress Disorder and strengthen resilience, I actively scan a list of resources for research, articles, and tips on leading ourselves and others through these turbulent times. I post those articles every day.
Let's shorten our social media distancing. Follow or connect with me:
LinkedIn and follow The CLEMMER Group
Twitter
Facebook
Together we can Learn, Laugh, Love, and Lead -- just for the L of it!
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The items in each month's issue of The Leader Letter are first published in my weekly blog during the previous month.
If you read each blog post (or issue of The Leader Letter) as it's published over twelve months, you'll have read the equivalent of a leadership book. And you'll pick up a few practical leadership tips that help you use time more strategically and tame your E-Beast!
I am always delighted to hear from readers of The Leader Letter with feedback, reflections, suggestions, or differing points of view. Nobody is ever identified in The Leader Letter without his or her permission. I am also happy to explore customized, in-house adaptations (online these days) of any of my material for your team or organization. Drop me an e-mail at jim.clemmer@clemmergroup.com or connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or my blog!
Let's leverage our leadership strengths to work together and get through this challenging time.
Jim Clemmer
President
Phone: (519) 748-5968
Email: jim.clemmer@clemmergroup.com
Website: www.clemmergroup.com
Inspiring with the Power of Persuasion: Do You Have the Write Stuff? |
Drowning in Information While Thirsting for Communication |
Read The Leader Letter in Weekly Installments |
Feedback and Follow-Up |
View PDF Version |
Past Issues |
Practical Leadership Blog |
Visit Our Site! |
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