Comments

Great idea – I am often accused of being obsessive about checking comprehension. I take it that as a compliment – I think quite often it is not meant as a compliment. George Bernard Shaw said 'The problem with the communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished’

Here’s my offering of 4 more checklist points:

*Check if you replied to the person who took the trouble to email you
*Check if your listener understood what you said - then check again
*Check if you congratulated someone for simply doing their routine job very well
*Check if you said thank you for a good service even if you expected it

Posted by Trevor Gay at April 17, 2008 11:45 AM

Another great post to share with my coworkers. I like the addition of the line, "There are things you cannot make happen, to be sure," because people often go straight to the things out of their control. Easier to criticize than act.
Trevor, nice addition to the conversation, as usual.

Posted by Todd Reed at April 17, 2008 1:23 PM

Be Genuine.

Posted by K.Sriram at April 17, 2008 9:09 PM

Todd, on many occasions in the past I've presented on programs with economists. They report on macro-economic happenings in God Alone Knows Where. I say, "Clean up your trucks." The execs in the room love, love, love to talk macroeconomics--they have no control over it whatsoever, so it's safe! But talk of clean trucks scares the shit out of them--too close to home, too personal.

Posted by tom peters at April 18, 2008 7:35 AM

Check that the HR policy you just sent to 200+ people was uptodate...

Check that your assumed positive intent is the right approach!

Check your blood pressure when they screw you up!

Posted by Patrick at April 18, 2008 1:37 PM

TP...too funny! I love it!

Posted by Judith Ellis at April 18, 2008 1:56 PM

It's also worth checking out how your suppliers fare in this regard, too. I work in logistics and some of our current / potential suppliers can't figure out why, when I tour their facilities, I head for the canteen, toilets and foreman's cabin. I figure that if these areas live up to all the blurb that's been pitched at me, if the guys at the coalface have got decent working conditions and if there are some measure and display data on show, then there's a chance this is a turned-on facility and we can work with it.

Posted by Mark JF at April 18, 2008 2:33 PM

Great points Tom, I would add one more. "Check your teeth before you speak". I was at an event recently where a speaker unfortunately did not heed to this. Although his content was credible the fact that most of the audience was stairing on the big screen at the object in his teeth made for a less than favorable impression. Positive impressions lead to success.

Posted by Kaplan Mobray, Author 10Ks of Personal Branding at April 19, 2008 10:45 AM

Mark do you head for the Canteen and then the tiolets? is the order significant? :-)

Mind you that does beg the question of the foreman's cabin :-(

Sorry

Kaplan - there is another side to teeth - You get people who have clearly had some work done in the teeth whitening department. When this is extreme it is equally off putting as people only notice this too!

Posted by PaulH at April 20, 2008 1:43 AM

Paul- You are so right...

Posted by Kaplan Mobray, Author 10Ks of Personal Branding at April 20, 2008 4:08 PM

Thank you all for your savvy insights, making this subject matter an extremely important one.

We all know communication is a process, not a “snap shot.” Subsequently, its dynamics are now great and important. If one think that the definition is lengthy, please don’t read and go on to the nest post. There was a talk on “semantics” on the blog. I reminded me of a noted semantics, a U.S. Senator of Japanese descent. He repeated many and many times the importance not to fall in “illusion of meaning out of words.” He said that we are used to take from granted many words, whose dynamics are silently and dramatically changing, in a hidden underneath. He recommended to appeal to a good dictionary to look up and to revise the entirety of connotations stemming from such a word.

I compiled, for the sake of those interested, the definition of Communication. As follows:

The act of communicating; transmission….the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior…..Interpersonal rapport….(used with a sing. or pl. verb)….. The art and technique of using words effectively to impart information or ideas…..The field of study concerned with the transmission of information by various means, such as print or broadcasting…..of various professions involved with the transmission of information, such as advertising, broadcasting, or journalism…..communicated; a message….A means of communicating, especially…..A system, such as mail, telephone, or television, for sending and receiving messages…. A network of routes for sending messages and transporting troops and supplies….. communications The technology employed in transmitting messages…..Biology The transfer of information from one molecule, cell, or organism to another, as by chemical or electrical signals or by behaviors….. An opening or connecting passage between two structures….A joining or connecting of solid fibrous structures, such as tendons and nerves…. action of communicating. 2 a letter or message. 3 (communications) means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers. 4 (communications) means of traveling or of transporting goods, such as roads or railways….1. The activity of communicating….2. Something that is communicated between people or groups…..3. A connection allowing access between persons or places; "how many lines of communication can there be among four people?"; "a secret passageway provided communication between the two rooms"…..Communication is a process that allows organisms to exchange information by several methods. Communication requires that all parties understand a common language that is exchanged. There are auditory means, such as speaking, singing and sometimes tone of voice, and nonverbal, physical means, such as body language, sign language, paralanguage, touch, eye contact, or the use of writing. Communication is defined as a process by which we assign and convey meaning in an attempt to create shared understanding. This process requires a vast repertoire of skills in intrapersonal and interpersonal processing, listening, observing, speaking, questioning, analyzing, and evaluating. Use of these processes is developmental and transfers to all areas of life: home, school, community, work, and beyond. It is through communication that collaboration and cooperation occur.1 Communication is the articulation of sending a message, through different media [2] whether it be verbal or nonverbal, so long as a being transmits a thought provoking idea, gesture, action, etc…..Communication happens at many levels (even for one single action), in many different ways, and for most beings, as well as certain machines. Several, if not all, fields of study dedicate a portion of attention to communication, so when speaking about communication it is very important to be sure about what aspects of communication one is speaking about. Definitions of communication range widely, some recognizing that animals can communicate with each other as well as human beings, and some are more narrow, only including human beings within the parameters of human symbolic interaction….Nonetheless, communication is usually described along a few major dimensions: Content (what type of things are communicated), source, emisor, sender or encoder (by whom), form (in which form), channel (through which medium), destination, receiver, target or decoder (to whom), and the purpose or pragmatic aspect. Between parties, communication includes acts that confer knowledge and experiences, give advice and commands, and ask questions. These acts may take many forms, in one of the various manners of communication. The form depends on the abilities of the group communicating. Together, communication content and form make messages that are sent towards a destination. The target can be oneself, another person or being, another entity (such as a corporation or group of beings)….exchange of information: the exchange of information between people, e.g. by means of speaking, writing, or using a common system of signs or behavior…. message: a spoken or written message….act of communicating: the communicating of information….rapport: a sense of mutual understanding and sympathy…. a means of access or communication, e.g. a connecting door….the action of communicating…. a letter or message…. means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers. …means of traveling or of transporting goods, such as roads or railways…. an act or instance of transmitting2 a: information communicated b: a verbal or written message3 a: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior ; also : exchange of information b: personal rapport 4plural a: a system (as of telephones) for communicating b: a system of routes for moving troops, supplies, and vehicles c: personnel engaged in communicating5plural but sing or plural …: a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in speech) b: the technology of the transmission of information (as by print or telecommunication)……. the act of communicating with people…Television is an increasingly important means of communication. We are in direct communication with Moscow….With an hour's walk to the nearest telephone, communication is difficult….There's very little communication between mother and daughter (= they do not have a good relationship)….a course on communication skills…FORMAL a message or a letter:…..We received your communication of 11th March and are sorry to inform you that we won't be attending the conference… The concept or state of exchanging information between entities….Some say that communication is a necessary prerequisite for sentience; others say that it is a result thereof…. potential for information exchange…..The node had established communication with the network, but had as yet sent no data….A message; the essential data transferred in an act of communication…..Surveillance was accomplished by means of intercepting the spies' communications…. The body of all data transferred to one or both parties during an act of communication…..The subpoena required that the company document their communication with the plaintiff…An instance of information transfer; a conversation or discourse. ….The professors' communications consisted of lively discussions via email.

Einstein: “I do not know anything more practical than theory.”

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at April 21, 2008 4:35 PM

OK Andy! OK!!! Can you please break up your writing into smaller segments? Smaller paragraphs, perhaps? All of this writing as is looks very scary and can be quite intimidating. Your purpose, I'm sure, will be lost. Many may elect not to even read it and that would not be desirable, as you have many interesting things to contribute.

As is it also makes me quite dizzy! There are simply way too many words together...just way over the top as is! I'd LOVE to read it, but I'm nor sure I can. (I've tried a few times.) It is not the writing itself. I am quite accustomed to reading very dense often considered laborious philosophical writing. In the future, can you do something about this, please?

Posted by Judith Ellis at April 21, 2008 6:28 PM

No, it's my style. I wouldn't be I. And we need to address difficult issues.

Sorry, Ellis!

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at April 21, 2008 7:37 PM

No apologies necessary, Andy. I understand. But it may well be your style that I may have to avoid. As I said, it's not the content at all, you writing could not be any more dense than that of Hegel, Heidegger, Sartre, Galileo, Newton, Einstein and the like.

I have read many of the works of the above writers and scientists both in the original language and in English. It is the fact that your comment above has so many words all together so tightly knitted. In any event, I understand. But I may also have to pass more often than I might would otherwise like. All the very best, Andy.

Posted by Judith Ellis at April 21, 2008 8:04 PM

And Andy...I'm all for addressing difficult issues. I gladly take worthy complicated issues and idealogies from thoughtful people on head first. I am generally not she who runs for cover or avoids difficult matters. I do hope, however, to be respectful and kind. Sometimes I'm successful, other times I fail miserably.

Posted by Judith Ellis at April 21, 2008 8:16 PM

Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at April 21, 2008 11:41 PM

Every time I follow your advice on branding me, I feel good and make significant progress. I need to become a regular reader of the blog again. Thanks, Tom.

Posted by Mike Chapman at April 22, 2008 6:46 PM

good tips, i hope to get some time to read them all.
regards

Posted by Teksty at May 3, 2008 5:47 PM