Leadership and Change

To me the differing languages used to communicate in the play (Sanskrit, English,and American Sign Language) represented the differing languages people use within organizations to communicate. Not only do we communicate verbally, but we all also send signals with how we dress, our body language and how we carry ourselves. Astute members of any organization can read these signals to discern deeper levels of meaning. From both inside and outside of organizations one can look at the communications that are sent by companies through the titles they bestow on their employees and the locations of their work spaces. Messages, both subtle and blatant, are included in so many corporate actions. Likewise, so many of the themes in the play were communication related.

I felt the variety of languages displayed in the play was a good indicator of the shrinking globe we now inhabit. We are all more likely to deal with more diversity in our day than at any time in the past. From calling a help-line that gets answered in Bangalore to the increased options for hearing impaired people to email and even use telephones. We all are communicating with more diverse audiences.

In addition to varying languages we must now also pay become attuned to differing channels of communication and their vagaries. In my office communications are received face-to-face, over phone lines, via email, and through fax. Each of these modes have pluses and minuses. When receiving communications we must consider the source and act accordingly. Had Ram considered that the email communications he assumed were from Vic could have been formulated by someone else he probably would have tried to verify the source and the story would have played out differently. In like manner, we do not make major financial moves at my office on information from emails unless verification is received.

The main message I took from the play was that communication matters. Communication is an activity that needs to be actively, not passively, engaged in. As important as this is for us civilians, it is even more so for leaders. For leaders to be effective, to make sound decisions, and lead their organizations into the future, they need to be aware of the communications they send and the ones they receive. Good leaders will stay informed on current methods of communication. Great leaders will familarize themselves themselves with emerging trends of communication.