Page 64 - Perfect Phrases for Motivating and Rewarding

Chapter 5

Communication Essentials

“He who has a why can endure any how.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche

ommunication skills, both face-to-face and via technology,
are critical to the success of any business. Ironically, in many
Ccases, the advance of technology has increased the impor-
tance of people skills. With so many modes of communication, each
of us needs to be especially careful when communicating important
information. Some people check voice mails, text messages, message
boards, and e-mails on a constant, consistent basis; others do not.
What’s the communication style of the recipient? Did the message
get through? Was it comprehensible? Is this a situation that requires
a human voice or presence? People who work together have differing
styles, expectations, and temperaments and must understand each
other explicitly to get the job done.
In 1967, Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase “The medium is the
message,” emphasizing that the how impacts the what. Today, with
so many media at our disposal, and real and perceived time crunches
and emergencies pulling at us, choosing the medium that best suits
the message and the audience—making the clear communication
choice—is more important than ever.

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