WHAT APPEARS TO BE
What’s your favorite form of communication? Is it telling, listening, asking questions, using body language or emails?
The increased pace of business is de-humanizing us. Communicating via electronics increases the speed, but too often decreases effectiveness. Is it possible that to be an “above average leader” one simply needs to focus on being human?
WHAT MIGHT BE
A friend once shared this story. He was summoned by a colleague who wanted to speak with him. Upon entering his co-workers office, the man stated, “That was an up-my-nose email you wrote me.”
What?
“Your words didn’t sit right with me,” the colleague continued. And then he demonstrated: Looking at his computer screen with an angry expression on his face, he jerked air through his nostrils like a bull enraged. “Your email went up my nose.”
WHAT CAN BE
Like the kid who used to taunt us from the open window on the school bus as it drove away leaving us standing on the corner, unable to respond – up-my-nose emails are the work of the weak.
It’s time to get off the bus and have a conversation on the corner. It’s time to stomp the elephant in the office by getting out from behind our desk, walking down the hall and having an honest conversation about real issues.
Up-my-nose emails are electronic darts designed to sting, but they only achieve two things: They reveal our own limited communication skills and they sabotage the very success we’re all fighting so hard to achieve.
What elephant are your ready to stomp? What up-my-nose email will you delete so you can have an honest conversation and move results forward?
What is the difference between what “might be” and what “can be”? You decide.
