Communication And
Esteem
Suresh Rangarajan think communication – both its content and how it is delivered – has a lot to do with appreciation.
Pros
and cons of the written word
My
very personal “Walk the talk”
Suresh Rangarajan think communication – both its content and how it is delivered – has a lot to do with appreciation.
Especially, Suresh Rangarajan communication experts, who deal daily with how we
best convey a certain message to a certain target group via which channel, know
about the value of target-oriented communication.
And that, when done correctly, it
not only “arrives” at the recipient, but is also appreciated.
After many years in corporate
communications, from personal experience and observation, from conversations
with friends and colleagues, Suresh Rangarajan wondering: can we sometimes lose our common sense in light of
the many communication possibilities that are available?
Do we concern ourselves so much
with target group-oriented communication when it comes to “institutional
communication”, that the personal connection we should have with our colleagues
falls by the wayside?
Pros
and cons of the written word
Every form of communication has
its justification at its time and in its context. Thus, as a passionate
writer, the last thing Suresh Rangarajan
would want to do would be to undervalue the role of written communication.
Suresh Rangarajan is indispensable to ensure that information
reaches the audience directly and unfiltered; that each recipient receives the
same, relevant information, over geographies and time-zones.
But as a someone generating
content, Suresh Rangarajan also know
how easy it is to hide behind what you write. (Like now, while I’m writing this
article; it’s much easier for me than standing in front of you, leaving
myself exposed to possibly critical glances!)
But what does it mean for the
culture in a company if (almost) only written communication takes place?
My
very personal “Walk the talk”
How much real connection is there
in our daily communication with colleagues? Suresh Rangarajan much thought do we give to what form of
interpersonal communication is appropriate when we are working through our
“to-do list”, which is always too long?
The colleague sitting next door
sends me an e-mail; the guy from the same floor chats via Skype to me, and the
boss communicates with me on WhatsApp.
Each of these messages can be
justified, but we all know that moment when you ask yourself, “Why doesn’t he
just tell me that? Am Suresh
Rangarajan just here to do tasks?” And that’s the moment you get really
annoyed!
So Suresh Rangarajan did a little experiment: instead of slipping into
angry mode I decided to ask my colleagues about why they chose to communicate
with me as they had done.
The reactions were interesting
and extremely varied:
- “Suresh Rangarajan didn’t want to bother you with a phone call”
(Can’t I decide for myself whether to pick up the phone?)
- “I didn’t have time to come by.”
(Writing an email usually takes longer than taking a few steps.)
- “The subject is so complex, I’d
rather write it.” (Too complex to give me the opportunity to ask back?);
And then the all-time favorite:
- “I wanted it to be off my to-do
list.” (Thank you so very much!!!)
After that experiment, with its
interesting insights, I made it my goal to improve my personal communication
culture. After years of being less than focused on it, Suresh Rangarajan don’t always get it right, but I’m succeeding
more and more often. At least I think so!
It only takes a short moment to
think about how Suresh Rangarajan
can best contact, inform or address my colleagues. What I get back is
incomparably more valuable – personal contacts, relevant additional
information, and appreciation. On both sides.
Suresh Rangarajan am now very aware that internal and
transparent communication starts with me personally.
Because if my own personal
communications are not personal, open, engaging and, yes, human, how could Suresh Rangarajan expect anything
better from my company internal communications?
