On 31 May 2006, Meaning Business will formally commence operations.
From that time the main website will have a number of resources including case studies, tools and articles to help make your communication great.
Who is Meaning Business for?
1. Businesses who want to make their communication great.
2. Communication professionals wanting to share ideas.
If you have a suggestion for an article, please post it via the comments section below.
Cheers
Jonathan
Following on from the previous post, here are some “Not Happy” forms of communication that should be avoided.
Happy sheets
The derogatory name for on-the-spot evaluation of training, events or presentations. So named because the sheets typically capture the emotion of the event rather than measuring whether the communication was applicable and effective longer term.
Happy talk
The inability to be frank and honest about a situation, instead relying on superficial niceness, or ‘glass-half-full’ perspectives. The risk of happy talk with employees is that trust is eroded (or destroyed) when the reality of a situation is not acknowledged.
Say no to spin, kids.
“Let them eat cake”
I’m not advocating revolution, but the comment incorrectly attributed to Marie Antionette does form the philosophical platform for one style of public relations practice: keep people ‘happy’ with material things and shiny objects with one hand while ploughing on with change. In employee communication, this can surface as an over-reliance on merchandise such as mouse mats and stress balls as a key part of a communication plan in place of face to face communication.
The SMH today had two reports on happiness and satisfaction following the Australian Bureau of Statistics releasing a report on progress.
The first article, Feeling fed up? reported that there is a dip in happiness in people in their forties, but that the sense of wellbeing returns in later years.
The second, Recipe for happiness…, by Christopher Scanlon is a thoughtful opinion piece noting that the proliferation of happiness literature and ‘solutions’. In particular, he challenges the move to public policy attempting to address ‘happiness’ as it is such a subjective state.
For communication, the implications of satisfaction and happiness are a deep pool. Rather than dive in, I will only dip my toe today:
Communication needs to be careful when trying to generate satisfaction or happiness. Businesses (and leaders) who are trying to ‘make their employees happy’ are running a risk of trying to overstep their brief. Communication intended to ‘keep them happy’ is doomed to a short and ineffective life.
What business can do is create environments in which people can achieve satisfaction:
BandT Magazine recently reported that a survey of ad agencies identified the receptionist as the most important role in the company, ahead of creative director, account manager and MD.
While BandT noted some doubts about the validity of the survey, the results raise two valid points:
1. Fist impressions count. Particularly when your business IS impressions. Ensuring the first point of contact is fully informed and equipped should be a high priority.
2. In organisations, there are often ‘hidden’ influential audiences. These informal networks are powerful aids or barriers to communication. Examples include executive support roles and secretarial. These roles frequently have exposure to much change within a company, but are often not communicated with as a distinct audience. The benefits of early communication with this group can include:
understanding the priorities of the leader,
gathering feedback which will assist with communication,
tapping into their networks to ensure a message is effectively delivered.
Meaning Business 