WEEKLY WISDOM - CLARITY OF COMMUNICATION

"Clarity of Communication"

Clarity: clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity

As I was writing this letter, I found myself in a web of miscommunication that I never expected to experience. I was working with some family members to plan a weekend of activities for family members who were traveling from out of town to enjoy a great weekend experience. As the planning progressed, it became apparent that our planning team was not on the same page in the how, what, and when we should be communicating information to our guest family members.

I took ownership for my part of the miscommunication. I did not clearly communicate my point of view and position on how we should plan this weekend and went along with the team even though I wasn’t one hundred percent on board with our strategy. This caused some tension in that the other team members believed that I had been the cause of the communication challenges we faced because I had not been completely clear to guest family members of our intent for the weekend and the expectations. My part was to make sure I communicated the agenda and the expectations of the weekend. My emails were not as strong and clear as the planning team wanted them to be. Even though it was not my style to be a very aggressive communicator, I could have taken the extra step of being clearer which would have alleviated a lot of the extra work we had to do to manage the family dynamics and expectations for the weekend getaway.

With me owning my part, at the same time there were other parts of the communication that led to tension amongst the planning team and frustration with the family guests. These included the following:

The planning team did not intently listen to the activity interests of the family guests. A planning team member pushed for their own personal activity interests. Another planning team member took it upon themselves to make decisions that negatively impacted some of the family guests without having a proper conversation with those impacted. Planning members were not available when family guests wanted to have a conversation with them. Another planning team member communicated challenging or conflicting issues that the planning team had internally to family guests who were not part of the team. Lastly, the harsh approach that a planning team member took when family guests did not agree with them. It was a complete disastrous communication miss and failure on so many levels from the planning team. All the above lead to a true lack of clarity when it came to effectively communicating.

After assessing the entire situation and owning my part, I truly learned many lessons as it relates to clarity of communication.

1. (Clarity) As a leader and influencer, it is critical to provide clarity in our communication. Go the extra mile!

2. (Alignment) Ensure that your lead or planning team is aligned as to what will be communicated as well as the how and when. If you’re not in agreement, discuss those outstanding items before communicating to your audience.

 3. (Speaking) It is truly not what you say but how you say. This goes a long way to ensure that your team or audience feels heard and cared for but still understanding the expectations set. Your professionalism can shine here.

4.  (Conflicts) Keep any challenging or conflicting issues within the lead or planning team.

5.  (Availability) Lastly, ensure to make yourself available if people have questions, concerns, and want to gain clarity.

The supporting and encouraging ESV scriptures for clarity of communication are as follows:

• Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

• Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

• James 1:19 - Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

(ENGAGEMENT)

Exercise Your Power this week 

1.    Examine a time when your communication was not on point and identify what you could have done to ensure clarified communication.

2.       Determine an upcoming meeting that you have scheduled and formulate ways to effectively communicate before, during, and after the meeting.

3.       Describe your communication style to another leader.