A Broken Record?
Ron Wastyn, Ph.D., Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Senior Leadership Consultant
Wastyn & Associates, Inc.
Linda and I just returned from Des Moines where we led a workshop for the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs on strategic planning, fundraising and succession planning with a wonderful group of people. We kept finding ourselves saying “Sorry if we sound like a broken record, but communication is essential for …”
Well, no need to apologize as communication – or interactions between and among people – is essential for the success of nonprofit organizations.
As we prepare our 2023 educational programs, I want to reflect on aspects of communication that allow us and our organizations to achieve our aspirations. BTW, this also serves as good advice for holiday family gatherings!
1. Listen. Don’t just hear what someone says. Unless we have a physical issue, we all hear what people say. Listening attaches meaning to the sound waves that enter our ears and ultimately reach out brain. To truly listen, we need to eliminate psychological and physical noise. This includes reducing physical distractions such as sound, lighting etc. that interferes with the hearing or concentrating process. Then we must reduce psychological noise – our previously held opinions of the other person or topic. Otto Sharmer tells us to listen with an open mind and open heart. Try not to pre-judge the content, but really devote yourself to better understanding the other person. In a nonprofit organization, this means really listening to what a funder or donor says that will fund and really listening to what your employees, coworkers or board members tell you about their perceptions of the organization and their work.
2. Dialogue and conversation. Effective communication is a 2-way street – a process of interaction in which all parties commit themselves to listening and serves as the rock of successful organizations. Through dialogue, we explore our common challenges and discover possible solutions to those challenges. When we engage in true dialogue, we come with a sense of open mindedness, free from preconceived notions of a problem and how we should approach solving it. When this happens, we value the people and their ideas in a more meaningful way. Consider strategic planning sessions in which you have engaged. Ever have one person dominate the conversation and shut down other people (intentionally or unintentionally)? Think of what might change when real dialogue occurs and all points of view get expressed and understood.
In the end, whether we talk about grant writing, strategic planning, or developing a better organization, communication lies at the heart. So, we as head into 2023, I challenge you to commit yourself to truly listening and engaging in dialogue with other people. You will not be disappointed in the results.
We will announce our 2023 workshop schedule in a couple of weeks with special programs on communication, organizational development, and fund development. If you want to learn more, stay tuned!