Years ago, I had a boss whose catchphrase was “I love it when a plan comes together!” I have had moments in my career when that phrase spontaneously pops into my head because I can see the results of collective hard work. Today was one of those days.
A co-worker from another department emailed a question to one the managers on my staff, and she also copied me. I happened to be about ten feet from the co-worker’s office when I received her email, so I just popped in and answered her question in person. A bit later, my manager sent an email response without knowing I had already answered the question.
Guess what.
Our independent answers were spot-on with one another, even down to sharing some of the same terminology. **Enter the adrenaline surge of success.** Why does this make me so happy?
- My manager showed me that he “got it.” Or maybe I got it, since he has been instrumental in shaping the plan that led to the answer. In any case, he and I are speaking the same language–to each other. Communication success #1.
- My manager and I are telling the same story to the rest of the world. We are speaking in concert–even better because it happened naturally; i.e. see point #1. Our answers were consistent with each other, therefore reducing the opportunity for confusion. Communication success #2.
Maybe it’s a small victory, but I love it when a plan comes together.
Was your former boss John “Hannibal” Smith from the A-Team? No, in all seriousness there is something deeply gratifying and satisfying when we realize that we have received a message accurately or that someone has received ours. It forms connection that is vital to our feeling of well-being.
What a great day for you!
As a communicator, what are your thoughts on the power of alliteration?
I love carefully crafted concepts, but the cognitive creation has to correctly convey the context. In other words, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Use it wisely.