THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION

Throughout 2021 Outlander has had the opportunity to work with student groups from every continent on the globe. The vast majority of these students have been engaged in some form of work-based project involving cooperation with colleagues across national borders, different time zones, and a range of cultural backgrounds.

These projects are exciting because they embed a theme of diversity. The projects engage students with viewpoints from outside of their normal frame of reference. Equally, these projects are riddled with difficulty.

Outlander provides training workshops to participants on themes related to group communication. What is amazing is that our opening workshop consistently creates confusion around a single sentence. And if a single sentence can be confusing, how much confusion is there buried down in these 3-6 months projects that are not being properly resolved?

“We’re going to have a team day out, wherein each of the 4 colour groups will hike a mountain.”

We typically kick off a workshop series utilising some games or activities to reflect and identify a primary character style as commonly seen in personality tools such as DISC, MBTI etc. For ease of reference, we utilise Insights Discovery, also known as ‘Colours’ because each of the 4 key character types are represented by its own colour.

Stories are a fantastic way of demonstrating a point. They activate people’s brains, ignite the senses and facilitate greater memory retention. So, we like a little story telling here or there.

Background to the story:

All participants are gathered in groups according to their ‘primary’ character style (or colour). The trainer proudly trumpets out from the front that, “As a result of outstanding participation and engagement from all of the attending students, we’re going to have a team day out, wherein each of the 4 colour groups will hike a mountain.”

You may think that’s all pretty simple. Right?

Interestingly, things are not necessarily as simple as we may think. Let’s take a look at what tends to happen.

Interpretation from the Blue group:

The Blue group, characterised by their introversion and attention to detail, immediately meet the announcement with an expectation for further information. An invitation for questions quickly results in a bombardment of practical questions: When do we leave? Has someone printed and waterproofed the map? How long will it take? What are the meal arrangements? What’s the weather forecast? Who’s arranging the equipment and gear? Do we have a first aider? Etc. Etc.

On review of further information, the Blue group often proposes an alternative route or plan. But a plan non-the-less that ensures the full group will get to the top of the mountain in a timely (if not prompt) manner.

Interpretation from the Red group:

The Red group, characterised by their extroversion and attention to key points, immediately meet the announcement as an opportunity to demonstrate themselves. Yes, there are 4 groups. But only 1 will be first to the top!

The Red group are quick to recognise that the start time can be pushed forward. They observe that the suggested route can be made faster by taking a few short cuts. It is even noted (often with laughter) that anyone who falls behind may be left behind. “We’ll collect them on the way back” some may say.

On discussion with the class, other groups are quick to concede that the Red group will likely make it to the top of the mountain first. Although, the Green’s gently point out that not everyone makes it to the top together. A breach of the rules queries a Blue? Opportunity for a witty remark from a yellow?

Interpretation from the Green group:

The Green group, characterised by their introversion and sensitivity towards others, tend to meet the announcement with an enquiring attitude. ‘We should double check that everyone is up for doing this’. ‘Does the route take into account the health factors of other members in the team?’ etc

Upon group consensus, the Greens tend to proceed up the mountain in a timely manner that makes sure that the needs of all members are being catered for. It may even be that half-way up the mountain, the Green group may hear a lonely shout coming from somewhere off the path, ‘Help me!’.

On recognition that someone out there is lost and needs help (maybe one of those abandoned Reds?), the Greens would prioritise the need for supporting this other person. All hands on deck, it’s time to help the other person!

Come the end of the day, the Greens may never have made it to the top of the mountain. But that was never their objective. They started as a team and wanted to do something together. They did that. And not only did they complete this together, their team even grew in size!

Interpretation from the Yellow group:

The Yellow group, characterised by their extroversion and subjectivity, tend to receive the announcement as a call for a party. ‘BBQ on the mountain!’ shouts out one. ‘Swimming in a lake?’ Interrupts another.

The Yellows may be eager and quick to leave. Equally, on other occasions they might not start until after lunch. Whenever they do get around to starting, it tends not to be too long before an alternative route reveals itself. Some dark entrance way into an eerie wood? Why not? A soaring eagle calling out for a closer vantage point to take that nice memoir pic? A random lake in the middle of nowhere that shouts out picnic time!?

Yes, the Yellow group may never make it anywhere near the top of the mountain [Sniggering erupts from several other participants]. But why should they? They heard that they were to have a great team day out, and they definitely achieved that.

Where it gets interesting:

Participants tend to greet the narrative with nods and an acknowledging laugh. However, we have only just arrived at the point where it gets interesting.

Notice that all 4 colour groups had received the same announcement?

Notice that all 4 colour groups had interpreted the same announcement differently?

Notice that the actions of all 4 colour’ groups generated very different results?

Yet, notice that all these different outcomes still all managed to achieve the task?

Wait. What?

The Blue’s highlight here that they were the only full group to make it to the top of the mountain. Surely, they were therefore the only group to achieve the task. Yet no, there was no requirement for any group to make it to the top of the mountain. At this point, a flurry of side group conversations spark off as participants realise what has happened and thrash it out between themselves.

The point:

If one sentence can result in so much confusion. How much risk of confusion and misunderstanding is there during a project that spans national borders, time zones and cultural backgrounds?

Whatever you do in life, if you want to do it well and be satisfied, then you should be aware of how you communicate with others.

Welcome to the Outlander Consulting series on group communications.