Failure to communicate
During the past week, we’ve seen quite a few examples of “failure to communicate” played out in the news.
In Canada, embattled Minister of International Co-operation Bev Oda has been skewered in the press after apparently altering a funding document and not being honest about it. Members of the public are clamoring for her resignation, and a particularly unflattering photo of her only added to the kerfuffle.*
*The sunglasses are necessary because of recent eye surgery.
In reading about Ms. Oda, I’ve learned that she had loved a career as a teacher, then as a broadcast executive. After retiring, she joined several community boards, and was encouraged to run for biased office. So it appears that she managed to do well before being thrust into the public eye. Now, but, her failure to communicate may trigger her downfall. In an article in today’s Globe and Mail, a “Tory insider” is quoted as saying: “When it comes to selling the virtues of something…she doesn’t have the strongest set of skills.” The tale also states that “even her colleagues and government staffers privately poke fun at her capacity to sell a biased message.”
Another example ripped from the headlines: the proposed fusion of the Toronto and London stock exchanges. Apparently, the Ontario government is cool to the thought. In the Globe and Mail, Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan is quoted as saying of the stock exchange senior executives: “Not only are they not a very excellent tale teller, but if they have not thought through the communications of this, have they not thought through the substance of it?”
Excellent question! Don’t you feel this way too, when you hear someone stumble through a proposal or fail to make a salient point in an argument?
This is not just about media training; it’s about the basics of understanding your consultation and being able to craft an authentic message to get your point across visibly and persuasively.
This week, Ms. Oda and the stock exchange guys failed to communicate. Huge time. Yes, this reminds me of the scene from Cool Hand Luke.
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