Classics

A number of months ago I launched my own little project of reading ten literary classics that I have always wanted to tackle but had never gotten around to. I am happy to announce that a few days ago I finished the tenth novel. Ironically, the final one n this arbitrary series was J.S. Salinger's "Franny and Zooey." I completed it the night before this iconic figure passed away at the age of 91. His work and others I tackled, including "Brave New World," "The Great Gatsby," "Crime and Punishment," "The Confessions of Nat Turner," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The City and the Pillar," "The Sound and the Fury," "Hard Times" and "East of Eden," were all genuine treasures to navigate. I have not had as much fun on a self-imposed project in years.

What did I learn? One thing is I gained a tremendous appreciation of the talents of the men and women responsible for them. In some cases, I had read other books by some of these people, such as Steinbeck, Vidal, Dickens and Styron, but nevertheless it was a wonderful journey. Good writing is not easy. I enjoy writing, but am the first to admit that when it comes to putting paper to pen, I remain very much a work in progress. Given my limited skills, I know I struggle more often than I care to admit. I can imagine that the authors whose work I enjoyed and their brothers and sisters must struggle even harder because their finished product remains timeless.

According to various reports and studies, fewer people these days read. Book sales, generally, remain on the down swing. Perhaps its due to our fast-paced society, our exploding technology that entices us with the Internet, video games and social media, but more and more books seem to be taking a backseat to ways to get through the day, expand our minds, and entertain ourselves. I feel bad about that because I love books and reading and wish everyone else did, too. Also, I believe the act of sitting down and wading through one page after another of an author's imagination is not only good discipline but a solid investment in our own intellectual capacity. We read. We learn. We grow. What better way to make us better equipped to face the challenges of life?

More Blogs

More and more newspapers seem to be getting into the blog business. Journalists whose names only appeared as bylines are now generating their own blogs on the topics or beats they cover. I see this as a very healthy step for all of us who follow the news and seek to gain a better understanding of what it means. In addition - and probably the thing I like best about this new development - is this provides readers with an opportunity to become more actively engaged in what is going in the world by interacting with those who seek to report it. By being able to exchange observations, raise questions and share experiences, readers are able to develop a better understanding of and more vested interest in their communities, country and world. Even if it is in small steps, it seems inevitable that one result will be a more active electorate at election time.

Another potentially positive result is that through this one form of social media members of the public will begin recognizing challenges and issues they have in common. Out of this may possibly come new publics to begin collaborating on ways to contend with these various matters. The bottom line, overall, is an enhanced sense of community within members of our public and more ongoing communication between men and women who others may not have ever felt a sense of connection with each other.

Granted, active engagement is now always pretty. And sometimes it can even seem to represent a step backward when it comes to communication and developing a greater community spirit. Take the so-called tea party members as an example. To say the least, their members can be very off-putting at times as much of what many of the members say, as presented in the media, seems to be based on ungrounded fear, ignorance and needless hysteria. Yet, despite this, coherence is slowly beginning to emerge in a way that will, I believe, benefit our nation. Cultural revolutions are never smooth, but they can be quite profound in a very positive way. It is the increased blogs and growing popularity of other forms of social media that are making this happen. My sense is that at some point down the road, all of us will be the better for it.

Communication Advice for Our Political Parties

Approximately fourteen months ago Barrack Obama was elected president. With his historical election the democratic party took firm control of both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. As a result, many political pundits claimed the Republican party was not only down for the count, but would remain so for years and years to come. At the time, I suggested for the Republicans to regain their footing, they not only needed to regain their voice, but they also needed to regain their ears as well. Speaking without listening, I reasoned, would be nothing more than babble and being seen as a party that babbles was no way for it to get back on its feet.

Fast forward to the present and it strikes me how that advice remains viable only this time around it is meant for the Democrats. With key victories in several key congressional races, the Republicans seem very much a party on the rise. They have energy and momentum. On the other hand, the Democrats appear to be floundering and without a clear sense of direction or purpose. If it is going to regain its mojo as well as the enthusiastic support of a majority of the American people, then it must take several fundamental steps: reconnect with its millions of constituents and gain a clear understanding of what the people have been saying and experiencing these past months; take what voters have been saying to them and clearly outline a game plan for addressing those concerns; and then compile key message points that reiterate the needs of the people and articulate what they are doing to address them.

For this to happen, of course, the first thing leaders of the Democratic party need to do is become more unified than they have been. That will not be easy because it will require serious compromise, putting aside self interest for the benefit of the greater majority, and discipline. Unfortunately, these are things not many Democrats seem to be all that good at. At this point, I'm not all that sure the Democrats will be able to pull this off. Anything is possible. Maybe the prospect of losing their current positions of power will be enough of a wake-up call. Coupled with the Republican's recent history of blind arrogance, I am far from ready to write off the Democrats. In the political world, 2010 is going to be quite a show, particularly from a communication stand point.

A New Class

I have mentioned before that I teach a public relations class to undergraduates on a part-time basis. It is always fun and stimulating even though I may not always do as well as I should or would prefer. Still, there are few things better in the world than the opportunity to connect with 35-45 prospective professional communicators and give them not only a glimpse of the profession they are considering but a sense of just vital it it to their own personal lives, to society and to our world. As always, my hope and plan this semester is to do justice to the profession and to the aspirations of the students. This semester's class had its first meeting yesterday. The meeting itself was straight forward enough as mainly we took care of housekeeping stuff ranging from going over the roster to reviewing the syllabus. As is the case in most first-time encounters, there was very little interaction. If things go well, however, that will change and change soon.

I tip my hat to everyone who is considering a career in some aspect of communication. As a profession and skill, there is none more fundamental or important. Communicators serve as ties that bind all of us to our families, friends, information and surroundings. They help us understand what is going on around us, help us make reasonable choices, and help us articulate messages we might want to share with others. In essence, they help give all of us a voice as well as ears and an appreciation that you need both in order to communicate effectively.

If at the end of this semester I can drive home to the students those key points, then in large measure I will consider my efforts to be successful. As it is with driving a car, caring for another person or dealing with an injury, to cite a few examples, communication is not one of those activities that should be taken lightly. But don't just take my word for it. Try going a day or two without it or doing it badly and see how quickly everything turns sour.

The Tenuousness of Communication

It seemed like a simple enough question. Do you have any objections if I bring along someone to our meeting? Could there be anything more straight forward than that? The answer, too, seemed right to the point. "Yes." I understood that response to be the person did, in fact, object to a guest being brought to the meeting. But as it turned out, that is not what the respondent meant. To his mind, he felt he was saying it was all right to bring a guest. This exchange, while not the most exciting in the world, illustrates just how complex and even tenuous communication can be at times. A simple situation. A simple exchange. Friendly. No stress. And yet two people miscommunicated. How could this have happened? Is there anything that can be done to prevent it from happening again?

So many of the exchanges we have with others are similar to this one. Missteps occur because those involved have their own perspectives in how they interpret what is said to them. For those who talk to and with others, the lesson here is that we need to include in our message sending a way to make sure the message receiver is hearing what was said in the way we intend him or her to. For those on the receiving end of a message - and this includes all of us as well - we need to make sure that we are hearing what the other person intends us to hear. I recognize this adds several layers to the communication exchange, but at the same time it reduces the odds of there being a misunderstanding.

Perhaps those extra layers do not seem all that necessary in such a simple and insignificant situation. But suppose the situation had not been so insignificant? Suppose we had been talking about the welfare of a loved one? The picking up of vital medicine? The transaction of large amounts of money? Suddenly, the miscommunication is a big deal and much harm has been done. Situations may vary in terms of their level of importance, but communication under any circumstance is vital. All of us who send messages and receive them have a responsibility to give communication the attention it deserves.

Old Friends

Recently I reconnected with an old friend that I first met over thirty years ago. As we have not seen each other in easily over twelve years, getting together again after all that time was a genuine delight. We met over dinner and had a lot of fun catching up with each other, talking about our families, discussing and solving many of the world's problems, and reminding each other how much better life can seem when one is surrounded by those they love and trust. It was a good time. This overdue reunion brought to mind the benefits of good communication.

What do I mean by "good communication?" These are those who view it being those times when there is agreement or no disagreement between parties or publics. I do not. I view it as being those times when respectful dialog occurs that results in shared meaning or mutual understanding. Agreement or consensus, of course, is the ultimate goal. But it does not have to happen for there to be good communication. I view public relations practitioners as being in the relationship business. As a result, it is their job to lay the groundwork for dialog to occur. It is not necessarily their job to create or manufacture agreement.

The old friend I saw the other day and I do not agree on everything. Politics is one example of a topic where our perspective differ. But that's ok. What is most important is that we are communicating as a result of common interests, priorities and regard for each other. Good communication makes that possible and effective communication helps lead to actual consensus. Make no mistake: sustained relationship ride on the wings of good communication. Without it, we would all be traveling solo in this world. What fun would that be?

A Simple Question

It's amazing how sometimes a seemingly simple question can stump people and, at the same time, trigger a great deal of emotional debate. At a White House press briefing the other day, the senior member of the press corps, Helen Thomas, asked why it is Al Qaeda is attacking the United States. This question brought back memories of nearly nine and a half years ago when the 9/11 attacks occurred and this simple inquiry was first raised. Among certain elements of the country and, at the time, the federal government this question was met with outrage and charges of treason. The mere attempt to get inside the head of our enemies and try and better understand things from their perspective was akin to denouncing the United States itself and declaring one's support for the terrorists. Fortunately, not everyone felt that way. But, unfortunately, many who did seemed to be part of the Bush administration and the right wing element of the Republican party that remains quite vocal and visible to this day. Those people between 2001 - 2008 seemed to have the biggest megaphones. Thus, those who did try to shed a better light on that terrible day had trouble being heard.

"They hate our way of life" was President Bush's stab at that question back in the fall of 2001. As it was and is with so much of what that man says, that comment fell way short for me. Nevertheless, that so-called explanation had to suffice as our country's official answer. Now, fast-forward to January, 2010, and Ms. Thomas. Thankfully, this iron lady is still practicing her trade and has not forgotten the relevance of this simple question. This time around White House officials did attempt a more thoughtful response. They talked of Al Qaeda's commitment to violence and chaos - typical attributes of any terrorist group. While that may not be the total answer, at least our government, with its new lead players, seems to be giving it more thought.

But going back to the Bush years for a moment, I do not think it is a coincidence that one reason our nation struggled as much as it did during that time in its battle against the terrorists is because of its unwillingness or inability to produce a straight answer to that simple question. Our nation's actions were chaotic and erratic for far too long. Maybe - just maybe - it was because we did not have a strong understanding of where the enemy was coming from. That understanding could have helped serve as a compass for us. As it was, the only compass we followed seemed to be President Bush's "gut" or instincts. Tragically, that proved highly inadequate. Let's hope our government's current answers to that simple question indicate a better sense of direction in this ongoing struggle.

Communication Research

In the world of research, there are primarily two methods: qualitative and quantitative. There are a number of differences between the two as any scholar or researcher can attest. From my perspective, I characterize one important difference as being the former attempts to showcase a topic from a more human interest element angle while the latter collects and analyzes statistics in order to draw conclusions about a particular issue. Both methods have considerable strengths and both, if done well, can provide deep insight into important issues. While any good scholar may have their own personal preference as to which method they prefer, when attempting to conduct research, more often than not, they acknowledge it should be the research topic itself that determines the method to be used rather than one's own personal preference. For instance, a topic that might better lend itself to a qualitative approach might revolve around a day in the life of a medical intern working in an emergency room. A topic lending itself more to a quantitative approach might be an analysis of the success or retention rate of medical interns who work in that same emergency room.

As far as my own preference goes, I definitely fall into the qualitative research camp. Perhaps it goes back to my own background in journalism, but I have always viewed people - all people - as having important stories to tell as well as being objects from which we can all learn. Whether someone is old or young, rich or poor, articulate or not, they possess perspective and a level of experience from which to draw and even share. I may not agree with their view of the world, nor may my experiences be the same as theirs. Still, I firmly believe there is not anyone from which I cannot learn something. The trick is to create a setting in which they can tell their story and then develop the skills that help them feel comfortable enough to share.

Both methods lend themselves nicely to communication research. And, interestingly, both methods require researchers to exhibit good communication skills in order to collect important data. Several months ago I devoted one of my entries to the comprehensive exams that are part of my doctoral program. As of this writing I am still trying to work my way through them. With luck, it will all have a happy ending by the end of January. Assuming I am able to jump this important hurdle, then I will move onto my dissertation. In it, I will pursue my topic of research following a qualitative research method. My topic pertains to organizational communication. My intent is to identify people who have dynamic stories to tell of the challenges of maintaining a viable connection with others with whom they work.

The Loudest Message

With a new year now officially underway, I find myself being drawn - sometimes reluctantly - to the many articles and reports attempting to analyze President Obama's first year in office. One question that continues to be asked and discussed revolves around how much difference he has made in helping eliminate the constant bickering and partisanship between republicans and democrats that has seemingly dominated the federal government for far longer than any of us wish to acknowledge. After all, didn't Obama vow to create a more collegial and even friendly tone in Washington, D.C. to help members of both political parties work together in harmonious fashion in ways we have not seen in probably over twenty years? Yes, he did. Was he successful? No.

Actually, I think the answer to that question is a bit more complex than a simple one or two word response might suggest. From my perspective, these past twelve months Obama did try to build bridges between the two parties. He did this in both word and deed. Unfortunately, for his words and deeds to be successful, the other "kids" in the sandbox needed to cooperate. They did not. My own theory is they did not want to. Doing so would have required them putting aside their egos, thirst for power and control, and self-interests. Apparently, that was and is too much to ask. Consequently, once again we as citizens all ended up getting less than we deserve in terms of efficient and meaningful government.

The failure to improve the tone in Washington, D.C. is not just Obama's. All of us own a piece of it. Many years ago someone once said in a democracy people get the government they deserve. On good days I like to think that is not the case. Unfortunately, as I look at the elected men and women who now comprise our federal government, those good days are few and far between. From a communication standpoint, Obama needs to keep plugging away. Despite the call of many of his supporters who are telling him to stop trying to reach out to members of the opposition party, as president, he should keep giving us the kind of representation that speaks to the best of us. Ultimately, the way to a public's heart is through openness, competency, honesty, consistency, and genuine concern. Granted, in today's climate these are not always easy messages to "sell," particularly since there are so many other opposing messages bouncing around the air waves. Still, there remains within me enough idealism to believe that the positive values of good communication as reflected in true bipartisanship will eventually shine through. Keep going for it, Mister President. I, for one, support your efforts.