"Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity."
Communication is necessary for relationships, families, organizations and governments to function properly. Poor communication, or lack thereof, leads to problems. Poor communication can become worse when not addressed. No communication leads to guessing and assuming. We have all been of the receiving and giving end of our uninformed assumptions. Sometimes we assume people understand where we are coming from. Or, we assume something is getting addressed because we asked the person one time. Do we really know, or are we just guessing?
Communication is one of the most important factors to establishing and maintaining great relationships or organizations. Without effective communication, relationships and organizations suffer. I learned this the hard way. I have had relationships go sour due to miscommunication. I have worked for organizations that underperform and damage their culture due to poor communication, or none at all. On the flip side, my favorite relationships are the ones where I am on the same page as the other person. My favorite organizations to work with emphasize constant communication.
If there is disagreement within an organization or relationship, communication is necessary to at least understand where each party is coming from on the issue so it can be resolved. If we choose to ignore the disagreement, a lack of communication can make matters worse. I used to avoid confrontation when I disagreed with people, but I learned addressing the situation prevents a mess from turning into a disaster. I don't like hurting people's feelings, but I would rather someone feel offended instead of them feeling neglected or misunderstood. If the relationship matters enough to me, it's worth speaking up.
Are there conversations you may be avoiding because you are concerned about how the other person will react? Does the situation need to be addressed eventually or are you secretly hoping it will resolve itself? I found some of the toughest conversations I need to have are usually the most important ones. I would put them off because I was afraid of the outcome, but it needed to happen. Now I address the situation quicker, so the issue gets resolved quicker. All it requires is effective communication.
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