“The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished” – George Bernard Shaw.
I can observe every day in my consulting practice how this old quote is so true, in particular in large organizations. Top management often confuses the act of communicating with actual communication.
It takes a lot of effort and caring to ensure proper communication. That means actual, down-to-earth leadership, and consistency through time.
I like to think that this issue can be solve through enough caring: what is communication if you don’t care about how well the message has been received and understood? It is about acknowledging the emotional component and be emphatic to the actual reception.
Be open and listen actively to assess the result of your communication. Don’t just deliver a message: observe its effect and ensure ‘after-sales’ service in the form of emphatic listening!
