Monday, June 29, 2015

Classifying a Message

When it comes to original thought and trying to make sense of the world, there is much for which we can be grateful when it comes to Aristotle. One of his contributions is what is labeled "On Interpretation and Categories," an attempt to identify ways in which everything that exists can and should be scientifically classified. As reported most recently by Arthur Herman in his latest book, "The Cave and the Light," the ten categories are: substance, quantity, quality, relation, place, time, position, state, action, and affection. Collectively, these categories provide an attempt to provide a sense of order to our world.


Much of what comprises the many elements of a single act of communication can be found in what Aristotle has put forth. Substance, for instance, represents one's actual message, the literal words used in a verbal or written act of communication. Quantity and quality speak to the actual number of times and/or ways one attempts to communicate a message as well as the merits of the communique itself. When it comes to relation, how well - if at all - does the message connect or relate to what has been communicated before it? Thee is then the matter of place and time: where and when a particular message has been inserted into an exchange.


Looking at a communique's position is in keeping with its placement and how it is timed. As a example, is the message given prominence or treated more as an after-thought? State and action can be seen as the strength of a message and the role it plays it helping determine its impact. Finally, affection speaks more to the level of regard a communicator places on what he or she has attempted to impart. These categories represent one more way to dissect and better understand an act of communication. Perhaps whenever we find ourselves trying to figure out what is being shared with us, using these categories can be of help.  

Friday, June 26, 2015

The Power of Symbols

Make no mistake, symbols do have impact. Take the American flag. To many, it represents the ideals of all that we wish our country to represent. Another flag has been very much in the news lately: the Confederate Flag. This symbol, more than any other, represents the ideals for what the Confederate States of America fought, including slavery and the desire of Southern states to formally break away from the United States to form their own nation. These two issues primarily drove the Civil War. Even though this costly conflict occurred over 150 years ago, a number of citizens as well as state legislative bodies and governors continue to honor this symbol. This public display of affection seems to finally be coming to an end.


In the aftermath of the terrible multiple killings that happened recently at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the focus of the nation is on the Confederate flag. Specifically, in response to public pressure from citizens and leaders throughout the US, a handful of southern states, including South Carolina and Mississippi, that have continued to prominently display the flag are now taking steps to reverse their actions. This is a very good thing. While the Confederate flag has historic value, what it represents runs counter to the ideals of the nation against which confederate sympathizers and supporters actually rebelled.


Of course, steps a number of southern states are in the process of taking will not also eliminate racism and/or feelings of intolerance some still have. Symbols, by definition, represent beliefs that are not necessarily visible, yet are perpetuated by actions or behavior. Such negative attitudes can and, sadly, will in all likelihood continue. But by no longer giving a powerful symbol such as the Confederate flag such validation, those still harboring such negative feelings will possibility feel less empowered to do so and maybe even begin reassessing their own attitude when it comes to others of different persuasion. Symbols are powerful communication of tools. If used correctly, they can make a positive difference.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

A Touchy Topic

Here's the thing about communication: for it to work - or even come close to working - parties involved have to actually try communicating. If that does not happen, then forget about any chance of effective communication taking place. I understand that some subjects are not always easy to address. People are sensitive. They do not always see eye-to-eye. Touchy topics are raised and sometimes feelings may get hurt or people may get upset. It happens and it is no fun when that occurs. But that is no reason not to raise sensitive issues. The challenge comes in raising them in a way that is respectful so as to minimize any negative reactions that may result.

There is a difficult issue facing the United States that relatively few seem to want to address honestly. It pertains to race. More specifically, it pertains to the fact that 165 years after the start of America's Civil War, there are still white folks who cling to hateful and harmful perspectives when it comes to African Americans. The most recent example of this is the terrible act of multiple killings at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. A white gunman, Dylann Roof, murdered nine people in the church for the simple reason he hates blacks: a racist crime motivated by racism.

This occurred in a state that still displays the Confederate flag over its capital building. This occurred in a country where other states continue honoring generals who fought against the US to defend slavery. This occurred in a country where its first African American President receives more death threats each year than any other previous in US history. We as a people, including men and women we elect to represent us, need to confront the reality that racism remains alive and well in our country. By continuing not to discuss this touchy topic or as some do, deny its existence, then we are doing far more harm to ourselves then any of our nation's so-called enemies.  

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Making Someone Happy

There is an old truism that goes something like this: "No one can make you happy but you." Even though I myself have said that to others and I have heard lots of others express that sentiment over the years, I confess to never have fully embraced it. For instance, if someone were to give me a million dollars, then their fingerprints would certainly be all over the happiness I would be feeling. But if that same person, instead, just slapped me across the face, then my negative feelings would definitely be due to them. My point is emotions we feel are influenced by forces outside ourselves. While at times we may choose to feel happy, sad, angry, etc., to deny the impact of what others say and do has on us is to simply deny reality.

I mention this as recently I learned of a survey conducted by Gallup in which it was found that nearly 70 percent of members the workforce are unhappy with their jobs. These men and women suit up everyday with little more on their minds than doing what they have to do to get through their eight hours behind their desks or on the assembly line. What an awful way to live! Yet, according to the survey, this is the reality of the average American worker. To me, it points to the sorry state of both leadership and communication in the work place. Competent and caring leaders can make a significant difference in the work lives of those who report to them. Also, how well those same leaders communicate with their subordinates can also help turn lemon into lemonade for their staffs. 

As has been pointed out by such people as Abraham Maslow and others, people have a need to feel good about themselves, feel appreciated, and believe what they are doing makes a positive difference. Effective communicating can help workers meet these basic and important needs. Further, professional communicators can play a key role in this effort. They can focus on devising internal  programs designed to enhance the level of interaction between management and workers, highlight the achievements of the workers, and help coach bosses on ways to show how greatly they appreciate those who report to them. Without question, such initiatives can greatly enhance morale within any organization as well as help raise the entity's overall level of productivity.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Turning Twenty

"What's it like being 20?" a student asked me the other day. I can honestly say that is a question I never saw coming. While I welcome different or off-the-wall questions from students, I must say this one will no doubt go down as one of my all-time favorites. This particular student, as you might guess, recently celebrated her 20th birthday. Upon reaching this milestone, the student explained she was hoping it would give her some clarity in terms of her perspective on life in general and, more specifically, her own future plans. It did not. 

As it has been over 40 years since my own 20th birthday, I confess her question gave me pause. The truth is, at times, I have trouble remembering what I was feeling or thinking 40 minutes ago. Forty years is a whole new level. Finally, drawing from my own communication background, I tried to frame my response in a communication context. Nearly 100 years ago Joseph Conrad wrote a book called "The Shadow-Line." Though the plot revolved around one particular adventure of a sea captain, Conrad talked of the shadow line representing a period of transition in one's life. In the case of this student and my own time when I turned 20, I saw such a time as one of transition between youth and adulthood.

As is the case for most of us when we are transitioning from one experience to another, we feel an array of conflicting emotions: clarity and confusion, patience and impatience,  confidence and self-doubt, etc. Such times, of course, are never fun and can cause their fare share of stress. But the good news is those feelings are also normal. They represent our own efforts to grow, seek our own path, and, ultimately, gain wisdom. Trying to figure out life's mysteries and how we can be happy and achieve fulfillment are great questions for any of us to try and address. Further, this type of challenge is not unique to 20-year-olds, nor should it be.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

DMZ

Perhaps the most infamous spot in the world today is what is called the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)that separates North and South Korea. Located along the 38th parallel, this region was constructed nearly 70 years ago as part of the cease fire agreement authored the countries involved in what has been called the Korean War. The United States, of course, was part of the group involved in the conflict and that helped orchestrate the end of armed hostilities. Interestingly, to this day, a formal peace treaty has never been signed. Thus, the cease fire agreement remains in effect and the DMZ continues to be guarded by soldiers on each side of the border.

Recently, I was able to visit this controversial site. I walked away from the experience feeling sad over how in this day-and-age leaders continue to be unable and/or unwilling to confront their differences, instead focus on their commonalities, and devise ways to co-exist without mindless acts of violence and terrorism. For some, peace continues to be an option they do not seem willing to explore. The DMZ represents such a reality, one in which whatever communicating that occurs is driven by short-sighted and self-directed vision. This runs counter to the notion that for positive collaboration to occur, then all parties must place mutual interest above self-interest.

One ray of hope I did take away from this visit revolved around a conference building that has been where delegations from both sides have met over the years. It is part of the tours that both sides give visitors. As one result of their ongoing disagreement, neither brings touring groups into the building at the same time. This, then, requires both sides to actually have to communicate in order to coordinate the schedules of their respective tour groups. At the risk of sounding unmindful of the complexities and difficulties of negotiations between enemy states, at least this shared conference building demonstrates the two sides actually can and do communicate and work together.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Through the Eyes of the Press

Even I have to admit that sometimes public relations practitioners can go too far. While it is good that many are highly loyal to their clients and those who they represent, at times such devotion can sometimes color their judgment as to what is news and what information should be shared with the external media. For instance, do journalists really need to be told when organization's holiday party is being held? Do reporters need to be pitched a story on the organization's CEO summer vacation plans? I think not. Yet communiques on these and other none-news subjects have been brought to the attention of the press in the hope of generating coverage. Dream on.

There are several factors at-play here. One is the Internet. One result of this technology is that public relations practitioners are able to send out blast emails to multiple reporters by simply pushing a few buttons. It is so easy, a public relations worker reasons. Among those who succumb to this temptation, most know better. They do it any way, however, as a way of demonstrating to their boss how proactive they are in trying to raised their client's profile. Unfortunately, the hard truth is these folks are doing more harm than good. By sending reporters non-news items, they are actually alienating those on whom they depend for positive coverage.

Even though it is now easier than ever to pitch and pass-along stories/information to the media, public relations practitioners need to raise the bar in determining what stories are worthy of potential press attention. Developing this kind of judgment comes from professional experience, learning what reporters actually consider to be hard-news, and developing an appreciation of the pressures under which reporters often work. Not having this overall knowledge-base is often a major source of irritation to the press. For public relations practitioners to work well with the press, then they need to do more looking at the world through the eyes of journalists.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Conviction and Knowledge

What makes one person more persuasive than another? Is it their physical presence? The sound of their voice? Their way with words? Their fancy power point presentation? Circumstances surrounding their efforts to persuade? These factors, without question, are very important. Two others stand out, however. They, more than any other, determine whether a person on the receiving end of an effort to persuade actually does change their mind or are motivated to take certain action. These factors are conviction and knowledge. Conviction speaks to how strongly one feels about their issue or subject while knowledge pertains to how much they know about it.

Conviction can be faked, but generally not too well. People often have the ability to recognize insincerity when they hear, see and read it. It represents a false note, an attempt to mislead. But true conviction - belief - is a powerful force that is hard to turn away from or ignore. While it does not, of course, guarantee conversion, it does trigger's one attention. Conviction is best fueled by knowledge - having a solid grasp of what one is espousing. To gain such a powerful weapon requires thorough research and gaining an awareness of the various perspectives on the issue at-hand. Conviction and knowledge, then, are a formidable combination.

Genuine conviction and knowledge can even be enough to overcome weaknesses one might have in their ability to communicate a position or point of view. This speaks to the truism that for communication to be effective, perfection in how one speaks or writes is not necessary. Yes, they should speak well and, yes, they be able to pen their thoughts in clear, understandable sentences. But until the day comes when a universally-accepted definition of perfect communication arrives, all of us imperfect beings should focus on developing strong views on what is important to us based upon possessing a sound knowledge base.