I believe communication is the conduit that leads to influence, regardless of the medium. And I believe that corporate communications are the quiet contributors to an organization; the silent salespeople, the workhorses of the business that drive action, and the necessary informants that foster innovation.
Far too often; however, dedicated communication is viewed as an afterthought – a distraction – an unnecessary evil that takes away from the driving goal of productivity.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Bridging the Gap
Communication bridges the gap between the curse of knowledge and the lack of knowledge. Those with the curse of knowledge understand the driving force moving forward; they understand the direction, the roadmap, and the path as it was defined, outlined, and reviewed over an excruciating, long amount of time.
Those with a lack of knowledge are disconnected. They are left to their own devices to figure things out. They are unsure of any plan and whether the path moving forward even includes them.
Those with the lack of knowledge use guesswork to pacify themselves – they play the telephone game hoping to talk to someone who knows the plan moving forward – they are fearful of the effects of any changes ahead – they resort to listening to rumors and office musings, and accept the worst without knowing the truth.
The curse of knowledge leads to an assumption mindset that everyone knows what you’re thinking, that everyone is on board, regardless of whether the information has been shared. When those with the curse of knowledge take the time to communicate thoughtfully and inform those with the lack of knowledge, something magical happens – collaboration.
Community
Communication cultivates cohesiveness, community, and an overall sense of value that the importance of the information includes everyone. Open communication, authentic communication informs everyone of the path – defines the objectives – sets the expectations and gives everyone a stake in the plan.
Once you take a step back and have genuine conversations that resonate and engage with those internal stakeholders, it deepens the level of conversation and organically develops partnerships that lead to amazing innovation and experimentation.
Give it a try. Share your ideas with your teams – make communication a priority and watch the engagement evolve.