Elsmar Cove Forums Index - Communication - Breaching the Toughest Wall

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Communication - Breaching the Toughest Wall
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Posted by: Randy

I guess I'll give this a shot.

I originally started to write this for the "International Environmental System Update" published at the time by BSI. The newsletter was sold and the new "management" refused to acknowledge my attempts to contact them on putting this article to print. I had previously been published in IESU but I guess my breath smelled bad or my hair wasn't combed to their satisfaction. Most likely "Snobs" and "Snots".

I digress...Take a gander and don't spare the commentary

Thanks

Posted by: Jonell

Randy,

Very well written, and I'm sure that many of us here can relate to this article.

Bravo!
Jonell

Posted by: barbt

great article, - was there more? I wanted to keep reading, to find out how to begin solving the people issue in communication. You could have been describing our organization, and our current challenges.

I am looking for solutions as well,
a) how to get management to recognize their role/ importance in the communication
b) how to break the barriers set up in each of the functional areas.

I am certain there is no magic pill, - so far, customers are the only ones who can 'speak' to management, in that they either purchase or they don't. the bottom line speaks clearly.

Comments?

Posted by: Mike S.

Randy,

I agree that communication is one of the most significant problems in many organizations today. I tell folks that it is amazing to me that I can reach into my pocket and call across the country or acros the world in seconds, but we cannot seem to get a message safely across the plant in a days time without problems and difficulty. So I think you nailed a big problem.

But I did notice several grammatical and punctuation errors. I'm guessing you did not send it for publication like this but maybe typed it w/o proofing for here?

Posted by: Jim Howe

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbt

great article, - was there more? I wanted to keep reading, to find out how to begin solving the people issue in communication. You could have been describing our organization, and our current challenges.

I am looking for solutions as well,
a) how to get management to recognize their role/ importance in the communication
b) how to break the barriers set up in each of the functional areas.

I am certain there is no magic pill, - so far, customers are the only ones who can 'speak' to management, in that they either purchase or they don't. the bottom line speaks clearly.

Comments?

I agree with you! I want more! Hopefully Randy will pursue your questions and respond on future post.
I thought the article was off to a great start and then was accidently terminated. Give us more Randy!
Jim Howe

Posted by: little__cee

Add my name to the list of those who thought the article was excellent.

It reminded me of a story which I will condense for posting here. The story was to illustrate the differences between men and women and communication and went something like this:

Man wakes up in the morning and thinks "I love my wife. What can I do nice for her today? I know, I'll wash her car" and he goes outside to wash her car.

Woman wakes up, man is off to wash the car. Woman thinks "he loves that $*@(! car more than he loves me" and gets angry at him for what he thought was a nice act!

Bottom line: communication IS important! Excellent article.

Posted by: ralphsulser

Randy, I thought this was right on the money. GOOD WORK expressing real world issues we can relate to. Particularly at our plant where the top management are Japanese who speak very little English, and hold info close to their vest.

Posted by: Randy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike S.

Randy,

But I did notice several grammatical and punctuation errors. I'm guessing you did not send it for publication like this but maybe typed it w/o proofing for here?

I was up until 1AM this morniung editing...Krap

I wanted to stop where I did, anticipating a continuation or follow-on piece later. I was primarily interested in developing the human dynamic at primal level. (Is primal the right word?)

Posted by: Mike S.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy

I was up until 1AM this morniung editing...Krap

I wanted to stop where I did, anticipating a continuation or follow-on piece later. I was primarily interested in developing the human dynamic at primal level. (Is primal the right word?)

BTW, I wasn't trying to be a "smart azz" by mentioning that. I seem to be the only guy who mentioned anything negative and I don't wanna appear petty. It just seemed very out of sort for a guy of your intelligence and experience writing semi-formally for the public, so I figured something was weird. No biggie.

Posted by: Craig H.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike S.

Actually, I must admit sending Randy an email about the same thing before reading the rest of the posts. It is quite clear that even through the late night editing "noise" (interference with communication) he still hit a nerve, so the message came through loud and clear. If it had not come from Randy (or several others here) I would have ignored the errors, much as many of my grammatical gaffes go unmentioned...

As far as the communications side goes, well sometimes

Craig

Posted by: Randy

I looked at it again, and guess what? I wrote it the way I speak...ask Marc or one of the others here that I may have bored to tears during a class.

I appreciate the comments for my 1st effort against some the world class folks that have contributed.

Theyats how I talks to folks Mike

Posted by: Jim Howe

Randy,
The last english composition class I took at the university was sometime ago but I remember the prof. stressing one very important point "WRITE THE WAY YOU SPEAK!". If there is one thing i cannot stand its an article where the author is full of himself writing to impress god knows who instead of trying to reach his audience.
Thanks again for a great effort.

Posted by: sal881vw

"Probably the first and biggest step is for management to truthfully seek and accept negative information about and objective critique of the organization itself."

My favourite sentence is the above, this is what I call precision and constructive cirticism. A good article.

Posted by: Charmed

Dear Randy:

The toughest barrier of all is People! Now, I just thought I might add my $0.01 here about

"What information do we need to exchange?"

A few years ago, I remember, our management decided to get into this very warm and fuzzy mode of wanting to communicate with all of its employees. Then we started getting messages on our answering machines - these were called "broadcasts" from all imaginable departments, mostly VPs from marketing and sales, finance, etc. telling us what the company is doing to increase sales, how they are looking at forward forecasts for the coming quarter, etc. I had no choice but to listen to those message, since I could not "skip" them, or at least never figured how to.

My point? This exchange of information with humble me way way way way down the corporate ladder was going to do nothing at all. I could do nothing even if took this message to heart. This new information that I had was not related in any way with my job related functions! I had other important messages to listen to on my answering machine, to do what I had to do that day to earn my paycheck. Just thought I would let you know.

Charmed

Posted by: Randy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charmed

Dear Randy:

The toughest barrier of all is People! Now, I just thought I might add my $0.01 here about

My point? This exchange of information with humble me way way way way down the corporate ladder was going to do nothing at all. I could do nothing even if took this message to heart. This new information that I had was not related in any way with my job related functions! I had other important messages to listen to on my answering machine, to do what I had to do that day to earn my paycheck. Just thought I would let you know.

Charmed

I feel pretty much the same about information. I don't really give a rat's "A" unless it's relavant to me and my needs. Too much of what is communicated internally and externally is "fluff", "gee-whiz" and "who cares".

Posted by: Claes Gefvenberg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charmed

My point? This exchange of information with humble me way way way way down the corporate ladder was going to do nothing at all. I could do nothing even if took this message to heart. This new information that I had was not related in any way with my job related functions!

Good point.... and there is something else to consider: Proper communication flows both ways. It must not be a one way street. What you describe sounds more like preaching, most likley to an increasingly disinterested audience.

/Claes

Posted by: AllanJ

Randy produced an interesting article that spurs a couple of thoughts:

1. I sometimes wonder why we constantly have to remind adults about how to communicate. It seems to me something is lacking in those formative years when children should be taught all about effective, polite communication. Schools and homes are the proper place to first learn these essential societal skills.
2. The old "joke" is visible on the TV, at work, in the pubs, clubs - everywhere, of two people in a conversation: one was speaking the other waiting to speak. Though, nowadays, it is more a case of "I do apologise for speaking when you are interupting me".

As for the Professor's advice to write as we speak, some examples would be humorous, some would be pornographic and some indecipherable, some a mixture of all! Perhaps, though, school teachers actually practice his advice, in which case, I return to point 1., above.

Isn't it nice to have so many lucid "Covers" all busily communicating?

Posted by: Randy

Here is an excerpt of a recent message I sent to a facility manager and his purchasing manager concerning air emission tracking .....

2) The development of a documented tracking mechanism (spreadsheet) that at the minimum lists;

1. Facility unique identifier or part number for each individual manufacturer product (if need be start with C0001 for example) NOTE: if you have the same product made by 2 or more different manufacturer's, each product has to have a separate number.

2. Product name (given by the manufacturer)

3. Name of the manufacturer for each product (not the supplier)

4. Manufacturer's unique product identifier (number, code, etc)

5. Size or quantity of product container (gallon, oz, pound, etc)

6. Quantity purchased (number of items)

7. Month of purchase

8. Area of usage in facility (booth, wood shop, metal shop, etc..)

3) Obtaining of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and Certified Product Data Sheets (CPDS) or Environmental Data Sheets (EDS). The MSDS is an absolute under OSHA's 29CFR 1910.1200 Hazard Communication requirement. The CPDS or EDS will contain more detailed information to assist in environmental reporting. Please keep this material onsite and forward copies to me.

Guess what I got back......"What are we supposed to do and what do you need to know?"

This is an example of no ownership or feeling of relevence.