Technology and Communication
The possibility that
technology brings to communication absolutely thrills me and scares me at the
same time. I have the privilege of working in a middle school and the privilege
of two beautiful, wonderful daughters. Communication happens so fast, and it
goes viral quickly which makes it both advantageous and a threat at home and at
work. The main component is to instill positive character traits wherever you
work and play.
Public Speaking or Speaking to the public
One important component of
communication on the Leader-Ship is public speaking. In some instances,
technology can stifle public speaking. Look at the end of any teenager’s hand.
You’ll see some type of gadget attached. While my daughter was in middle
school, she had friends we never even saw because of text messaging (not
necessarily a bad thing but it didn’t promote the public speaking component of
the Leader-Ship).
As leaders on the ship, we
must create these public speaking opportunities in order to survive in the
long-term. These chances can occur in a variety of settings, mostly by doing it. In a school, you can build it
into the curriculum. In a corporation you can build public speaking into
meetings with presentations and research.
I can name innumerable
portable technologies my daughters use at home but they might be obsolete by
time this book goes to press. Because people do not create these opportunities
on their own, we must lead them to these opportunities that become habits. Lead
by example.
Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. Ask anyone to
list some of their fears and almost always it is public speaking. As a matter
of fact, when I searched the topic on Google, the fear of speaking was listed
before the fear of death. That’s right, most people would rather die than get
in front of people and speak.
According to Forbes magazine,
the fear is usually connected to some other fear. It makes sense because when I
researched professional development in our organization, one fear was speaking
and/or teaching in front of colleagues. Even people that were exemplary
teachers to middle school students feared getting in front of colleagues to
teach or present.
Any organization can flourish or be destroyed by either external or
internal communication. For instance, where are the pockets of negative and
positive communication in your organization? I try to attack the negative
through honesty but be prepared because people don’t like to hear honesty if
it’s not their perception. Negaholics will waste their time complaining rather
than doing something in a positive manner. They are in the way of your
leadership as well as theirs. Perception is reality. Make the real reality the
real perception.
Let’s
face it, it is easier to complain than to do something and make your organization
a place where everyone wants to be. It might take change and people are
reluctant to change even if it’s a small event. Now let’s get
started with unconditional communication.
When was the last time you
had a truly authentic conversation with someone and you actually listened to
what they had to say? It takes practice to understand what the person is saying
and be able not to interrupt and wait for your turn to speak.
Be cognizant that you are
communicating every second of every day. When you are in a constructive
communication zone, you’ll know it. Look around. Are you where you want to be?
If not, do something about it. Don’t be a “Lookie Loo.” A Lookie Loo is someone
that sits back, complains, but does nothing. They get in the way of the rest of
us making progress.
OK, so now what? Be a better
communicator. Make your organization Visible, Tangible, Walkaroundable (V, T, W)
in a positive way.
“We see the world, not as it is, but as we are – or, as we are
conditioned to see it.”–Stephen R. Covey
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