Project Management Books from the Project Management Advisor™
 

The Truth About Getting Your Point Across...
And Nothing But The Truth

Project Management BooksPart XI:  The Truth About Informal Communications  

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Some of my most effective team communication has happened in hallways or around the water cooler.  Allowing yourself to engage in the informal discussions shows you are human and allows you to get a pulse for what is going on in your organization.  When kept in check, informal communications can be a great means of getting your point across and letting others do the same.  However, you do need to keep the informal communications in check and don't participate to a point where the effectiveness of both you and your recipient is impacted due to the disruptions. 

This part contains four truths, as follows:

  • Truth 49: Informal doesn’t mean ineffective - Good communication doesn't always have to be planned, structured, and timed with a stopwatch.  Sometimes it's the informal hallway discussions that yield great ideas and can give leaders great insight into their organization. 

  • Truth 50: Beware the drop-in - Ever heard someone say "got a minute?"  It's pretty rare in my book that the "minute" in "got a minute" actually lasts only sixty seconds.  It's more like five to ten minutes.  Allowing for the drop-in to hit you up for something is great, just be prepared for what you're getting into.

  • Truth 51: Focus on the big grapes on the grapevine - Ah, grapevines.  Everything from, "Who's getting promoted?" to, "Who's dating who?"  Some grapes are small and harmless, while others are huge and destructive.   Don't worry about the little grapes on the grapevine; focus on the big ones and keep them from bursting. 

  • Truth 52: Be accessible, not open-door - Being "open door" is great in theory, so long as you don't have a lot of your own work to do.  A practical alternative is to take on a "be accessible" persona where you openly welcome others to schedule time with you and provide perspective. 

Order The Truth About Getting Your Point Across here.

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