Why Simple Communication is Complex
I’m the CEO of a global company, but I don’t have an MBA. Much of what I know about business I learned from Peter Drucker. I first discovered the Austrian business theorist’s writings on innovation, entrepreneurship, and management in the late 1990s, when I was heading up IDEO’s London studio, and they continue to inspire me. I keep a complete set of his works on my iPad for easy reference.
Which is why it’s such an honor to be speaking at the Drucker Forum in Vienna this fall along with a host of very smart folks including Roger Martin, Charles Handy, and John Hagel. For this year’s conference on “managing complexity,” I’ll be addressing what our increasingly complicated and interconnected world means for people and organizations—a topic I’ve written about before.
Here’s an example of trying to manage complexity that I know firsthand: In the early days of IDEO, there were fewer than 100 of us in the company. We didn't have email, but being small made it easy to communicate and stay nimble. We now have over 600 people in 12 locations across eight time zones. Though we use email, IM, and an intranet we call the Tube to share ideas, it’s still tremendously difficult to keep our far-flung family connected in ways that feel truly human and real.
Drucker explains why: “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said.” In other words, much of the message is conveyed through nonverbal forms of expression like eye contact, posture, and hand gestures. Taking this to heart, we continue to experiment with new tools: real-time video like WebEx, Blue Jeans, and Google Hangout; as well as video wormholes in IDEO offices around the globe. Not perfect solutions, but a start.
I’ll have to wait until November to hear what my fellow speakers have to say about managing complexity and connectedness in the global workplace. Until then, I’ll keep mining Drucker’s work—complicated thoughts made simple for the non-MBA—for guidance on how to navigate what’s ahead.
What tools or behaviors have helped you tackle complex organizational challenges?
Photo by Andy Deakin / IDEO
.Harvard graduate.Retired Senior Civil Servant,Govt of Pakistan. Busy in my own pursuits!
10ySimple communication is complex when the speaker really does not communicate with the audience. He may be flying high intellectually or professionally, but he is not taking the listeners along. It is important to keep bridging the gap. To make it simple, keep reading their minds as you are filling their brains!
Entrepreneur and Investor
10yA very important reminder to all of us on how to the get the best out of other people, ourselves and any situation or challenge
Sr. DGM QC (Cement Quality , Process and Systems Optimization Xpert)
10yTrue ------------and its also the level of trust within the people that speaks for itself.
End the Overstay in Power in A at Petition
10yI believe that communication ,however simple it may seem,is vital in human and business relations,work places and in security coordination.
Software Marketing Specialist and Coach
10yUse Goalscape Software (http://www.goalscape.com)! Displays the entire goal structure, priorities and progress in an intuitive visual format. For teams working on shared projects, the online version Goalscape Connect (https://connect.goalscape.com) is the ideal solution. It supports the same major functionality as Goalscape Desktop and has some additional collaboration features like per-goal IM (with email notifications), shared attachments (in any format) and co-workers' presence and update indicators.