STRATEGIC RELEVANCE OF COMMUNICATION

STRATEGIC RELEVANCE OF COMMUNICATION

Homo sapiens, as a species, have progressed faster than any other animal species solely because human beings have learnt to communicate and cooperate better for the mutual betterment of mankind. Among the fruits of these unrelenting efforts to improve, human beings have successfully won the challenges of time, distance and speed and have acquired the ability to communicate across communities, countries and continents.

Following ideas, proverbs and quotations provide the proof, if it is needed, to highlight the role of communication in our civilization:

1. Communication is a key to success and advancement
2. Communication is not a quick fix; it is a journey.
3. The verbal edge is the winning edge.
4. What you say or write is you.
5. All progress means war with society.
6. The finest eloquence is that which gets things done.
7. Communication is the glue that holds an organization together
8. Communication is the life-blood of an organization
9. Top executives need to communicate most of the time
10. It is not enough to have a strategy; communicating it to everyone is the real challenge

(1) Communication skills „impress‟

It is a set of personal skills that transform ones‟ personality. Effective communication skills enable a person to „impress‟ as the acronym elaborates:
I Idea
M Message
P Pause
R Receiver
E Empathy
S Sender
S Security concerns
Thus to impress others especially ones‟ subordinates, peers and seniors, managers / leaders have a duty to themselves – to improve their intra-personal communication skills. Only they can help and no one else can undertake this self-improvement regime on their behalf. Experience has confirmed that these skills are largely acquired and are not inborn.

(2) Communication is key to „success‟

Communication skills spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S for everyone including the firm that acquires these skills:
S Self-awareness
U Understanding others
C Caring for others
C Choosing right words, phrases and idioms
E Esteem of self
S Self-confidence
S Sharing with others

(3) Poor communication skills push one to „failure‟

If a person is not aware of the power of personal communication skills and does not put in sufficient efforts to overcome the deficiencies in his oral and written communication skills, failure faces him in the face:
F Fear of facing subordinates, peers and seniors
A Assumptions that are not valid and tested
I Insensitive to environments and situations
L Label others in to convenient categories of various prejudices
U Uncertainty about outcome of the efforts
R Resentment towards everyone
E Ego clashes with one and all