Why can't we talk?

Communication matters. Organisations are networks of relationships – individuals interacting in pursuit of hopefully shared goals, aims or objectives. Even departments of one must interact to be able to clearly identify what others require – or what they require from others – and how best this can be achieved. No desk is an island, not matter how big or deep the metaphorical moat around them might sometimes feel, but when things go wrong or mistakes are made it is common to hear ‘communication’ being singled out as the diagnosis.

But perhaps something else needs to be said here: that communication – or a lack of it – is more likely to be a symptom than a cause. Think of communication issues as the organisational equivalent of post-adolescent acne or obesity: yes, they’re something to tackle, but they have arisen for a reason. What needs to be addressed is the underlying cause, of which there could be several. The following are only a few examples:

• Unclear Goals or Roles
• Ill-defined Structures and Processes
• Poor leadership
• Cultural Misunderstandings
• Demoralisation
• Inappropriate Leadership Style
• Inappropriate Behaviours

If your organisation is experiencing any of the problems here, it is not only discussions around under-performance that will fall under the euphemistic heading of ‘Difficult Conversations’. 

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