"The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said."
The reason why it's so important to hear what isn't being said, is a large number of people either aren't really clear communicators, or are fearful of potential repercussions from what they let out.
Another reason to listen to what isn't being said is it's quite possible our people aren't working from the right suppositions, making it impossible to communicate the right things. Either way, we need to listen carefully to the empty spots of conversation and communication.
Making decisions on what is being communicated alone could end up in disaster. We are assuming the needed information and data is being presented; that the people we're listening to have done their homework exhaustively. That's a dangerous assumption to make in critical situations, or any situation for that matter.
So how do we recognize what's not being said? It has to do with if the right things are being talked about. It's the very content of what is being communicated. Does it come from the stated and real purpose of the business? Does it deal with concrete real issues or is it theory? Is what's not being said because people are afraid to talk about some difficulty? Are they avoiding a tough issue?
This is one reason so many business meetings are dead and boring; people either aren't able to relate to information from superiors, or they don't offer relevant information needed at that very time.
It's becoming increasingly important to learn to be listeners of the empty spaces. Listeners of the unsaid. Many times it can say a lot more than anything that is being verbalized. The wise manager will take this into account in their own communications as well as those communicating to them.
Other Peter Drucker Resources:
The Man Who Invented Management
Beyond the Information Revolution
Remember to Sign up for my feed
Sponsored link: The outsourcing every manager requires - Tampa Locksmith
Comment Preview