Dealing with Anger

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20091203/sc_livescience/studyrevealstheangriestamericans

Check out this link regarding the sources of anger study done in Toronto. Note that interpersonal relationship problems at work is among the top three sources. In addition, those with less education, those with children and of course those with time constraints and economic pressure are feeling the pain.

For years business has referred to communication skills as "soft skills" training. "Soft" as opposed to "hard" or skills that business people have believe are directly attributable to performance. I am already starting to laugh at the notion. Let's give everyone finance skills which they promptly forget or maybe we should laden spreadsheets and research upon them showing how to cut costs and re-engineer... And yet, survey after survey will reveal that communication continues to be the number one thorn in the side of companies and directly or indirectly the source of low performance.

Follow this train of thought. The leaders meet for days and forge their strategy. They then take about 15 minutes to communicate it to the masses if that. Other times they rely on a trickle down that is also cut to a fraction of time. Is it any wonder that folks down the chain do not grab on to that strategy and give it a big hug.

The next step then is to design work and manage it closely to make sure these people who arent' as engaged, do what needs to be done. This authoritarian style is mocked when backs are turned, and gets some results, but falls woefully short of what they could get. The worst by product is a lack of trust which permeates the culture and slows the communication and performance to a crawl of what it could be.

The Corporate Leadership Council produced research that names "Honest and accurate informal feedback" as the number one driver of high performance. There is no way you can accomplish this driver without a sense of trust amongst the people of your organization.

What do you think of communication in the workplace? Is it important?

What are the biggest flaws you see in your organization from a communication standpoint and what is the effect?

Answers to your Communication Questions

My blogging handle is the Communication Mercenary as I plan to take my experience and background to wherever the battle is. After watching the blogosphere for a while, I decided it was time to take my Masters Degree in Organizational Communication and over 20 years of resolving people related issues to the masses. I have helped unions work with management and visa versa. I have helped individuals of all ages and social standing.

I don't bring an entourage or a fancy radio show with sponsors' hooks in me. I don't have to publicly humiliate anyone to get ratings. In this venue, my intentions are pure and I answer to no one but myself and the fellow humans who seek my opinions.

And yet it is far more than opinions they get; it is someone who will listen to truly understand. And although there is a huge market for this service, few are very good at it.

I will be sharing insights from the long road of situations and scenarios I have experienced from the halls of Ford Motor Company, Mobil Oil Corporation, Papers Companies, Telcom and more. I hope you will find some of it useful. I also ask you for your situations and look forward to serving you.

Brian a.k.a. The Communication Mercenary