Leadership and Change

Communication in the play was demonstrated in the obvious, traditional methods such as verbal communication and communication via gestures. It struck me that verbal communication alone would not have been enough to convey the plot and feelings of the story. The addition of sign language made the experience much richer. Not just because it fit the topic but also because it presented a challenge to the audience. I found myself drawn to the hand gestures that make up ASL and wish I would be able to know this language at least a little bit. Scott had made a comment before the play, stating that he would most likely concentrate on watching the signed language because it is so much richer than the spoken word. Even though I cannot understand ASL, I could understand what he meant by watching the hand gestures. Other methods of communication used in the play also enriched my experience. The set decoration, especially the pillows, created an environment that fit the plot. They were tools to help demonstrate anger, loneliness and comfort. Other tools, like the phone & the computer brought in modern ways to communicate. Communication also happened via the clothes chosen by the director or actors and brought out the personality of the character. The suit and tie of male character (Ram) and the colorful dominantly red clothes of Victoria served to communicate the differences these two very different characters better than any verbal description would have done.

How does this play relate to our class topic of leadership and change in an innovation society? The entire play is a good demonstration of innovation. The explanation of the theater founder who spoke with us before the play provided a much richer experience for me. The information he communicated provided much deeper understanding of the work of the theater. In addition to demonstrating how theater can use different innovative techniques to present a more comprehensive understanding of today’s society and problems, these innovative techniques also demonstrate how communication is the key element in leadership and change. Demonstrating leadership or bringing about change has to be done by communication. And not just one communication style. Leaders need to utilize and embrace many different styles, tools and techniques in order to convey the richness of their message and reach all their constituents.

No where is this more evident than in the field of safety. Whether it is introducing a new way of operating a tool safely, or informing new employees of safety as a core principle, the information needs to be communicated passionately and in ways that can be understood and embraced by all listeners. In safety, verbal communication, just like in the play, is simply not enough to reach everyone. The information needs to reach everyone on a personal level and has to be so powerful and poignant that the individual simply cannot ignore it. It may seem obvious that communication style and methods need to match the workforce (or audience), but which supervisor, shift leader, manager or director thinks about how, for example, the clothes they wear serves as a communication tool? Imagine a supervisor speaking to his employees on a ‘hard hat’ required construction site, without wearing a hard hat. As we learned from Kouzes & Posner, the message will not work unless the supervisor sets the example and demonstrates the safe behavior. Now imagine leader in 4 inch heels & leather sole walking into a factory where rubber soled steel toed shoes are required for all employees who step onto the factory floor. This leader would not even have to speak about safety, just the shoes alone convey a message so ignorant that it could take months of communication and modeling the right behavior to undo.

But enough from my safety soap box. I truly enjoyed the play and the message it sent to me.

Claudia Beermann