The Amazing Art of Communication

Yes, I believe communication is more art than science. Would you agree? Every book I have read on the subject normally places a scientific view of communication with a formula of activities to be the most effective communicator on the planet.

I think I am pretty good. That is the problem. I think I communicate at times better than I actually do because I think I have done a good job. Today proved me wrong - I screwed up, again.

Here is what happened. I was having a conversation with one of my teammates when I shared some changes I would like to see. One of them was accepted, the other challenged. I like challenges and appreciated this person’s clarifying questions. That was not the problem. You see, I had already moved in my mind on how I should communicate the accepted point and did so only to receive a demeaned leader of one of our teams. What I had seen as accepted should have been clarified in summary form.

What I have realized is that communication of a leader to other leaders is not the same based on my communication style, but rather focused on the style of the leader with whom I am communicating.

I know this. It is Communications 101 - tell them what you are going to say, say it and summarize what you said.

The best communicators are actually artists, though. Their canvas is the desired result with the other person. Their brush is their words. The vibrancy of the art relies on their experience and their imagination. They use some science to help them measure, but in the end it is their intuition that makes them the best artist.

It looks like I need to go back to watercolors and work my way back to Monet.

Posted on December 04, 2008 in Leader Development