Quote of the Week: "Email, instant messaging, and cell phones give us fabulous communication ability, but because we live and work in our own little worlds, that communication is totally disorganized.” - Marilyn vos Savant      

 

Is the convenience of today’s modern technology of texts and e-mails offset by glaring misunderstandings that compromise business effectiveness? Important findings from The Economist Intelligence Unit Global Study (sponsored by Cisco Corp.) conclude:

 

• In-person communications matter to business leaders, with 75 percent indicating in-person collaboration as critical to business success, affecting business outcomes more than other forms of communication. Although results indicate that this trend spreads across the globe, slightly stronger responses from Europe (77 percent) and the Asian Pacific region (78 percent) may reflect regional experience and cultural differences in regard to business practices.

 

• Today, businesses are increasingly exposed by limited in-person communication options within organizations as well across their suppliers and customers. More than 60 percent of communications today do not occur in real time.

 

• Misunderstandings resulting from the lack of in-person communication on major projects and strategic initiatives present business risk—88 percent of business leaders indicate business exposure and resources significantly affect business outcomes.

 

• Successful in-person communications are characterized by fully engaged interaction—with 54 percent of business leaders indicating the most important communication factor to be discerning the level of engagement and focus through a combination of visual and audio cues.

 

• There is a strong desire to increase in-person collaboration, and survey results show the potential to increase productivity and business outcomes by more than 20 percent across critical business.

 

The importance of effective communication aligned to business goals cannot be overstated. Factors and motivations for increased in-person communication include more efficient problem solving and conflict resolution, creating and expanding relationships, and comprehension of new opportunities. While electronic communication can be handy for situations like appointment confirmations, in-depth understanding of more complex issues and proposals, and the multiple communication cues (eye contact, voice tone, facial expressions, body language) afforded by face to face meetings will ultimately prove more productive, and more human.

 

E-MAIL DISTORTION HUMOR                              

 

From CEO to Manager: “Today there will be a total eclipse of the sun…time will be allowed for employees to view it in the parking lot. Staff must meet in the lot at ten to eleven, when I will deliver a short speech introducing the eclipse. Safety goggles will be available at a small cost.”

 

From Manager to Department Head: “Today at ten to eleven, all staff should meet in the car park. This will be followed by a total eclipse of the sun, which will appear for two minutes. For a moderate cost, this will be made safe with goggles. The CEO will make a short speech beforehand to give us all some information. This is not something that can be seen every day.”

 

From Department Head to Floor Manager: “The CEO today will deliver a short speech to make the sun disappear for two minutes in the form of an eclipse. This is something that cannot be seen every day, so staff will meet in the car park at ten or eleven. This will be safe, if you pay a moderate cost.”

 

From Floor Manager to Supervisor: “Ten or eleven staff are to go to the car park, where the CEO will eclipse the sun for two minutes. This doesn’t happen every day. It will be safe, and as usual this will cost you.”

 

From Supervisor to Staff: “Some staff will go to the car park today to see the CEO disappear. It is a pity this doesn’t happen every day.”