Page 90 - The Voice of Authority

The manager with the pending meeting pondered his
predicament: What had the president meant? Take it or leave
it? Or, take it and love it?
The previous conversation on the mixed message un-
folded between two managers in the front row of one of my
seminars. We work, love, socialize, live in a climate where
people don’t say what they mean—even with the best of in-
tentions.
If someone asks, “Hey,
how do you like my new of- To some extent, tact and
fice?” you’re not likely to say, evasion make civilization
“If I had to look at this color and camaraderie pos-
paint all day, it’d make me sible. But purposeful eva-
puke.” sion as a rule, over time—
Families are no different. where harmony is valued
They often value polite con- above honest communi-
versation during a holiday cation—destroys trust,
weekend over direct discus- erodes morale, and lowers
sion of serious issues. Some productivity.
couples land in the divorce
courts because neither can
discuss straightforward feelings for fear of defensiveness
from their spouse. The longing for harmony outweighs the
importance of honesty.
To some extent, tact and evasion make civilization and ca-
maraderie possible. But purposeful evasion as a rule, over
time—where harmony is valued above honest communica-
tion—destroys trust, erodes morale, and lowers productivity.

Six Communication Styles That Create a Climate
of Either Paranoia or Productivity

Leaders typically fall into one of six patterns of communi-
cating, and that pattern largely contributes to the commu-

78 The Voice of Authority