Family Business Blog
Feb 01, 2018
Are you Communicating Effectively?
Though the issues they face are many and varied, one on the recurring themes we've noticed over the years we have been working with families in business, is the lack of effective communication.
In most families people have known each other for, if not a life time, then for a considerable period of time.
This can lead to a number of traps including –
The Familiarity TrapAlso known as the ‘I know what you’re going to say next’ trap. We often think that because we have known someone for a long time we know what is going on in that private space between their ears. What’s more because ‘I know how they will react’ in a given situation, there is no need to actually discuss it with them.
The Multi-Skilling TrapAlso known as the Gerald Ford trap, it’s the belief that we can walk and chew gum at the same time. With the pace of modern business we’re often doing more than one thing at a time. But though this can be efficient, there are times when being effective is more important than being efficient.
The Behavioural Style TrapEach of us has a unique way of seeing the world. We take in information in different ways, work at different paces, relate to people in different fashions and require different information when making decisions. The behavioural style trap arises when we presume that others are always on our wave-length and that we’re on theirs. This can be the exception rather the rule as the reality is that we all have different ways of processing information.This perception can cause many communication issues, not only amongst members of the family, but also with employees, customers and suppliers.
In most families people have known each other for, if not a life time, then for a considerable period of time.
This can lead to a number of traps including –
- The Familiarity Trap
- Multi-skilled Trap
- Behavioural Style Trap
The Familiarity TrapAlso known as the ‘I know what you’re going to say next’ trap. We often think that because we have known someone for a long time we know what is going on in that private space between their ears. What’s more because ‘I know how they will react’ in a given situation, there is no need to actually discuss it with them.
The Multi-Skilling TrapAlso known as the Gerald Ford trap, it’s the belief that we can walk and chew gum at the same time. With the pace of modern business we’re often doing more than one thing at a time. But though this can be efficient, there are times when being effective is more important than being efficient.
The Behavioural Style TrapEach of us has a unique way of seeing the world. We take in information in different ways, work at different paces, relate to people in different fashions and require different information when making decisions. The behavioural style trap arises when we presume that others are always on our wave-length and that we’re on theirs. This can be the exception rather the rule as the reality is that we all have different ways of processing information.This perception can cause many communication issues, not only amongst members of the family, but also with employees, customers and suppliers.
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