Communicating In Chaotic Environments

How do you, or would you, communicate in a chaotic environment?

That question was put to me by a reader who works in big, frantically-paced telecommunications company. Many projects operate at the same time, and many connections exist among the project teams.

In this environment, teams work independently, but at the same time depend on each other for critical information. Without that information, time is wasted and progress slowed.

In a broader sense, the challenge is to create communication systems that gather, process, and disseminate critical information. With this information, teams can work more efficiently and effectively.

The reader reports that one solution emerged out of a technical forum organized around a very large project. He says that while participants exchanged technical information, a lot of value came from the process, as well as the content.

Specifically, many participants got to know each other, sharing their experiences and insight. This opened up person-to-person channels that had not existed before. New, informal networks developed and participants found alternative ways to get information.

Therefore, he suggested that quarterly conferences might be a good idea, because they provide a mechanism for further developing and extending these networks.

My suggestions complemented his experience and thoughts. I recommended that each team develop an information requirements list at its planning meetings. After articulating such a list, team members can begin identifying where and how they will get this information. In other words, start with objectives, a strategic approach.

Teams should ask: What information do we need? Why do we need it? Where and when can it be found? Who will get it, and from whom? This takes the information shopping list to a new level, without necessarily adding a lot of time to the process. With the specifics identified, gathering the information should be quicker and easier.

On a related topic, technology opens up a number of interesting opportunities for better communication in such an environment. Email, discussion groups, and internal databases offer ways to get and give critical information.

On a smaller and less chaotic scale, I've set up several closed, Internet discussion groups for associations with which I volunteer. They provide excellent forums for discussion between meetings or other get-togethers.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is to create electronic mechanisms that actively draw out information, rather than just passively route it to the participants. One way of doing this might be to set up groups in which requests for information are posted and answered.

While such a process might not work for some organizations, the thrust behind it should work for most. That is, we can build effective communication systems when we start with a strategic approach, working backward from our objectives to the things we will do.

In summary, even in chaotic environments, we can develop systems that lead to good communication, allowing us to get and give critical information.

Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. Learn how you can use communication to help achieve your goals, by reading articles or subscribing to this ad-supported newsletter. An excellent resource for leaders and managers, at: http://www.communication-newsletter.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


The Silent Assassin - What to Do When They Visit You?

IntroductionThere are a group of people in the community that... Read More

Lets Make Training More Interesting!

Many HR managers believe that by sending their workers to... Read More

How to Get Your Procedures Project Done

Wouldn't it be nice for business owners and executives to... Read More

Effective Ways to Give Performance Feedback

Consequences of Not Giving Effective FeedbackLet's take a look at... Read More

Islam in the Workplace

Suggested practice for HR personnelMuslims now form one of the... Read More

Want to Manage Your Time? Get Real!

You know the drill - the ridiculous deadlines, the relentless... Read More

The 70% Solution: Practical Testing and Version Control

"What do you mean you need to push back the... Read More

The Rise of Corporate Chair Massages

Employers have rapidly begun to understand the importance of stress... Read More

Status Quo Pep Talks That Can Threaten Your Leadership

Organizations live and die by results. Yet most organizations get... Read More

3 Reasons Why CRM Strategies Fail

Customer relationship management (CRM) is one of the most effective... Read More

Managers Who Spend PR $$ Wisely

If you are a department, division or subsidiary manager, your... Read More

Is ISO 9001 2000 Right For My Business?

Firstly you should decide your own reasoning behind considering ISO... Read More

What 80% of Businesses Don?t Know: Tips for Improving Your Working Capital Management

What is the number one way to prevent failure in... Read More

Selecting a Business Broker or Intermediary to Help You Sell Your Business

As crazy as it seems, some people spend more time... Read More

A Facilitators Guide to Running a Stakeholder Analysis Workshop

This facilitator's guide to running a stakeholder analysis workshop is... Read More

Driving of work trucks

Each time you or one of your work crews cruises... Read More

Why Your Business Needs an E-Mail Policy

Why is it imperative to have a company E-Mail Policy?... Read More

Service Level Agreement (SLA) Boot Camp

Service Level Agreements, or "SLA's" are tricky but useful mechanisms... Read More

Satisfied Employees, A Powerful Marketing Strategy

Even in today's still uncertain economic times, there are companies... Read More

Attract and Retain Positively Great Employees - An Action Plan for Employee Training

Everyday a business owner, CEO, or manager somewhere is complaining... Read More

When Code Freeze Turns To Code Slush

Time To Market (TTM) is a vital concept that every... Read More

Critical Success Factors - Next

The Critical Success Factors Focusing on the... Read More

Across The Interview Table!

Job interviews are easier for the interviewer or the interviewee... Read More

Reprimanding Marginal Employees

THE MARGINAL PERFORMER: Every manager must, from time to time,... Read More

How to Set Up a Conference Call

The methods in which you set up a conference call... Read More

Do You Need a Personal Assistant?

It's great to be multi-skilled?be able to type your own... Read More

Avoid These Seven Deadly Dangers Of Outsourcing

Here are seven dangers of outsourcing your software development. They... Read More

Innovation Management ? smart people dont necessarily produce great ideas

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Influencing Change - A Guide for Sellers, Coaches, and Supervisors

When people or groups make a decision to purchase something,... Read More

Conquering the Number One Problem in Business--Poor Communication

The Number One problem in business is poor communication: between... Read More

How Your Business Can Pick A Software Developer

Eventually, your business is going to need to have some... Read More

Get Down With OCP: Evaluating DBA Job Applicants in an OCP World

Not long ago, weeding through DBA applicants with a tech... Read More

The Crisis of Modernity

Since the beginning of the industrial era our world has... Read More