Memoirs of 21st Century Dad

Value of Conversation

Have you wondered why almost everyone prefers to have a leisurely chat with friends & colleagues, rather than sit diligently in front of the computer at their workstations? Maybe it is the thrill of not working when you are supposed to, or simply the sharing of the latest gossip in office, or debating the results of last night’s World Cup match.

As employers, business owners, managers, how do you manage such time-wasting activities, when there is simply so many things that need to be done … due yesterday! To worsen the situation, Facebook has caused losses of millions of dollars, in terms of labour costs, as people spend much of their office time, adding new friends and checking out each other’s profile updates.

How do we, as managers get them back to work and get them to be productive? Some companies restrict office computer’s access to Facebook, and create an environment that discourages needless office conversation.

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with this picture, so long as the company’s goals are still being achieved. In fact, there is much value in conversation. Value, which unfortunately cannot be accounted for monetarily. Value that we as managers must learn to tap on …

In conversation, there is an exchange of ideas and experiences. This exchange provides the opportunity to create synergy and innovation. When we restrict conversation, either face-to-face or electronically, we are in fact inhibiting any potential synergy and innovation lying within our team.

We should encourage conversation in all forms - in discussions, forums, blogs and workshops. No one needs to be a know-it-all, in fact, nobody can be a know-it-all as knowledge and ideas are limitless. With conversations, eureka moments will be discovered and possible pitfalls may be avoided.

If many of you think that you have meetings that encourage conversation, then may I ask you to evaluate how your meetings are conducted? Who speaks most during these meetings? If less than 50% in the meeting (assuming that there are less than 20 people) speak up, and not only when they are asked to, then I would say that the meeting is merely a talk-down session. There is no conversation happening there.

Meetings should be 10% decision-making and 90% brainstorming – yet still be focused with an appropriate agenda and disciplined time management. Only then, can we see the true potential of our staff. Nobody wants to listen to a single person speak for 90% of the meeting! And there are many ideas and thoughts churning within every individual on every issue being raised. Would it be beneficial for the company to listen to these ideas before coming to a conclusion on the best plan of action?

And if you need honest feedback or opinions on certain marketing campaigns, I dare say that the best feedback is solicited via ‘the grapevine’. No one wants to

speak up in a board meeting, for fear of embarrassing themselves or risking their livelihood. But the office gossip will bear the true facts of every situation, albeit certain creative exaggeration to make every story more spicy. We just need to sieve through them judiciously before settling on certain established facts.

So dear managers, business owners, employers – plug your ears into the conversation and leverage on the human need for social engagement, to raise your company or business to another level of performance.

This reminds me … I need to be more patient with my sons’ incessant chatter and questions – because they are merely creating and synergizing new ideas in their young minds.

Writer is a Consultant with FAHAMIR that specializes in redesigning training and propagates the belief that success in life is achievable through the leadership of self and others.