Why a pronunciation-style title? Because people are probably tired of seeing “communication” as a topic of discussion – whether in the workplace or in the personal sphere. But avoiding communication and communicating about communication leads to miscommunication or failure to communicate altogether!
Have I got your attention now? Good!
If your workplace was in existence prior to you joining the organization, the cringeworthy communication failures you may be experiencing now are not your fault, nor are they the fault of the other individuals in your workplace. The communication styles and norms that you’ve fallen into are a result of the cultural evolution of how those in your respective positions have come to interact.
I know, that was a mouthful. The fact that communication station has devolved to the level of dysfunction junction is something that happened over time. You and your colleagues were onboarded into the expectations as to how someone in your current roles should interact with people in other roles. In other words, it isn’t a reflection on you personally, but on the organizational culture.
If the communication within the organization is frustrating and lacking, it is not your fault or that of your colleagues…but I challenge you that it IS your responsibility going forward.
Make a conscious effort to change how you communicate, regardless of your role within your organization. If you aren’t in a formal leadership role, start by having a candid conversation with those on your immediate team about how you all best communicate as a group. If you aren’t sure where to start, may I suggest John C. Maxwell’s book 16 Laws of Communication.
Better communication = better relationships = higher productivity = better results. Other areas of the organization will take notice of your team and want you to share your “secret sauce”. If you start making small changes, it can ripple out into a full culture shift.