I had an interesting conversation the other day about business communications. The conversation went like this.
What’s more important in business: clarity or diplomacy? When framed in that particular way, it becomes pretty clear “that clarity” is obviously the higher value. On the other hand, that is not necessarily universal in the entire organization. Often times, for the sake of attempting to soften a communication, or make it more diplomatic, or allowing it to become politically correct, a clear communication becomes so continued that you don’t have a clue as to what it actually says.
Hence, it’s appropriate for the top executives to make sure, that first and foremost, clarity abounds in all communications inside the organization.
My younger years were formed on Air Force bases mom and dad were stationed in. I had an opportunity to experience first hand clear communication in a military context. In fact, dad exemplified that each and every day of his life.
Mom, on the other hand, is a homemaker who never worked a day in her life and was always known (at least in her younger years) as being extraordinarily diplomatic.
My experience in employing ex-military during the last 20 years has reinforced that same trait in military communication, by military communication: clearly understand the mission; clearly understand the constraints within which the mission is to be achieved, if any; confirm the understanding; and then execute. There’s not a whole lot of room for diplomacy or subtlety. There’s a lot of room for clarity.
When you think about it, when people’s lives are at stake, airplanes are being flown… and landed, and there’s co-dependency of effort, clarity has to become a major driver.
So too with the business environment. The first and foremost job of anyone communicating is the clarity of the communication. The first and foremost job of anyone receiving the communication is getting it clearly.
I’m not opposed to diplomatic communication, but I’m opposed to a lack of clarity and my experience is that you lose clarity with diplomacy.
On the other hand, while I’m lukewarm on diplomatic communication, I demand respectful communication. A respectful communication honors the listener, but doesn’t dilute the message. Diplomatic communication often times patronizes the listener and almost always dilutes the message.
The bedrock of an effective organization is effective communication. And the bedrock of effective communication is clear and candid communication.
Original writing date: February 16, 2007