With the massive thrust of technology putting our communication in a high-speed time warp:
“When you draw your own conclusions from a story or symbol,” Ingram said in his lecture, “you are engaged in the creation of the message, you are active in creating meaning. That affects commitment.”
Consider direct versus symbolic communication: direct missives — such as a mass email — are fast and clear, they create authority and allow little room for misunderstanding. However, they are not very powerful messages; the more people who receive the message, the less power the message contains.
“Direct communication can be cheap talk,” said Prof. Ingram. “It doesn’t have much credibility.”
How often are you involved in the creation of the messages you receive and the meaning of those messages? Are you drawing your own conclusions, or are you letting others interpret their data for you, and you are content with their results?
Do you immediately offer them solutions, or do you ask them questions so they can resolve the situation themselves? Why do you do that – to hurry them away from you? When you toss another person your suggestions, you rob them of the opportunity to create their own mind-maps. You are treating them like a robot.
It’s not what you said, it’s what they think they heard.
