Getting Your Point Across

As a project manager, communication will be a key factor to the overall success of the project at hand. As with colors, clothing styles, and technological tools, everyone has their own preferred way to communicate, however sometimes one way is much more effective than another.

For example, this week we looked at a message that had been delivered in three different forms: as an email, a voice message, and between two people as a conversation. When I first read the message as an email, I simply did just that- I read the message. I understood that as “Mark” I had information and data that “Jane” needed to finish her own reports, but it wasn’t until I could hear the urgency in her voice in the voice mail that I was able to determine how much she needed my information and how it was effecting her performance on the project. Email, in my opinion, is a tricky thing. It’s good for quick communication, but it is hard to detect emotions through an email. In fact, it can often lead to major problems should the underlying tone be misinterpreted, leading to a communication breakdown, so it is important that through email communication be clear and brief (Hack, n.d.). While voicemail messages can also be misconstrued, one also can, if they choose to listen to the message and not to simply “hear” what the other person is saying, pick up on the vocal inflection the person leaving the message is implying, such as a casual tone or one of urgency. Of course, if you truly want to get your message across, the last scenario in my opinion is the most effective-delivering it face to face to the person it is intended, because it allows the receiver of the message to interpret the deliverer’s body language as well as vocal inflection. Body language, or non-verbal communication  is often used to supplement what we want to say through gestures, moving, or facial expressions (AL-Nashar, 2012). As I watched the third method of delivery, I could see the worry in “Jane’s” face as she let me, “Mark,” know the importance of the reports  to her, for because she didn’t have the information she needed to complete her own tasks. To me, this brought to life the words of Charles Dickens, who once said that electronic communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true, meaning by coming to “Mark” in a face-to-face environment, Jane has put herself in a situation that could be uncomfortable in order to ensure her success (n.d.).

Effective communication between team members creates a feeling of trust and a sense of belonging. By ensuring that project-related information is shared, and that each team member specific skills are utilized and is acquainted with the team goal, project managers can begin to build that trust, which in turn can lead to comfort in sharing issues that may need to be resolved through the course of the project (Panse, 2011).  To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to communicate with others (Robbins, n.d.).

AL-Nashar, K. (2012, March 30). the importance of the body language in business. Retrieved from http://www.live-from-campus.eduniversal-ranking.com/live-from-hiba-higher-institute-of-business-administration/tips-tricks/the-importance-of-the-body-language-in-business.html

Dickens, C. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/communication.html

Hack, M. [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.marcandangel.com/2007/05/28/email-communication-problems-how-to-communicate-effectively/

Panse, S. (2011, December 23). Small group communication: Effective team communication. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/small-group-communication-effective-team-communication.html

Robbins, T. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/communication.html