We spend so much time overly accentuating letters, words and sentences when children are learning to speak. We repeat, repeat, repeat and then some and we are over joyed in the feeling when they say it and especially when they say it so clearly. We listen so intently and work so hard to help them to get it right and when they do we laugh and compliment them, we video them and their actions mostly the inflection in their voices and the expressions on their faces and their body language. We post these to the likes of Facebook and send emails and pictures and clips via mobile uploads and emails.
As the kids begin to socialize more and learn more and more of various communication techniques – writing, speaking more clearly, conjugating sentences, body language and the likes we continue to languish in what they learn and how – and mostly through their formative years we take the time to continue sharing and reveling. Business performance and results are dependent upon appropriate actions that are known by all.
Long before children can say words or join them into sentences, they are active language learners. Within a few short years, young children go from newborns without language to excellent communicators and lively inventers and tellers of stories.
Then we get into the workforce.
- Where did all the wonders of the joy of communication go?
- Why is it so difficult to clearly express one’s self?
- Why do we get so frustrated with ourselves, employers, peers, employees?
- How does the simplicity of speaking and listening that we learned and reveled with and in as a child go so far south?
- Why do we lose the magic of the simplicity of something that came so easily with children, once we get into the business environment?
Businesses become families and much of our time and energy is put into the 40+ hour work week. We define ourselves by our professional experience and expertise. We align ourselves to the professionals, organizations, affiliations, groups, etc. that either stretch us, compliment us, or keep us agile. So then why is it that such simplicity of listening completely, speaking clearly and saying what you mean and meaning what you say, writing without anger, interpreting and interrupting others, etc. is so difficult? These and those questions above are ones that will continue to be asked and learned for years to come. Yet, when we look at communication in business, we lose whatever we learned and some. What was so natural and should be so natural and spontaneous, has become vindictive, rehearsed and plan hurtful.
Communication is the cornerstone to much of our existence and is truly simple. We have complicated it. So bringing it home….what can YOU and what can we in business learn from our youth and from what was and should be such a simple activity, come back to you naturally, simply and ease of allowing ourselves to just be!
“ They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Carl W. Buechner
If you put together a plan on your business and you do not give it to your company to follow as a roadmap, or put your company GPS where all know the coordinates, then how can you expect accomplishment and completion (Execution) of the end results?
There is no free lunch and there is no easy way. Anything that is worth having, achieving and/or obtaining is worth taking the time up front for whatever the end result is that is deemed. The energy that we appear to spend in either not communicating or communicating in fashions that will surely take longer, can be easily be put in at the front end so that results are achieved and outlined and everyone is understanding of what is expected the outcomes and working together.
It is essential that corporations have dependable communication structures in place. The last thing a business wants is to fail to communicate its position properly. Unfortunately, many large corporations have really dropped the ball while working with their customers. Simply ask yourself if you are good communicator and what does a good communicator do, represent and demonstrate? How do you know that you are and what do you do to ensure that the folks around you are understanding you, following your expectations, etc.? Full Business Performance depends upon it!
