A high percentage of communication problems in projects and processes are avoidable. Because EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE has a different personality when it comes to communicating, breakdowns occur.
Perhaps you can identify these communication personalities:
- The electronic wiz. The silent not verbal type who only wants to communicate via email or instant messenger.
- The iPhone bandit. Only verbal will do and wants to discuss everyone on the phone but won’t document anything on paper.
- The Once a Weeker. Responds to everyone once a week, but expects immediate response to their emails/voicemails immediately.
- Mr or Ms. Nastygram. Creates detailed reports of problems with an embellishment to show how clever they are. Can really inflame a project team member with Smart Alec comments.
- Meet me in my office. Sets up interminable meetings and face-to-face conferences to discuss information already known to the team.
- The Proclaimer. Announces victory before it has occurred. Thinks they are motivating the team by setting impossible goals and sending congratulations before the are met.
With most large projects having a combination of these personalities in them, it’s important to standardize communications protocols, actions and methods. Tomorrow’s post February 19, 2011 will address this issue.
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