Human communication is tech neutral

Back in 2020 I was invited to contribute to a CSIRO symposium on how science communication has changed in the age of COVID. I loved this challenge as it is something I think about a LOT!

So let me set the cat among the pigeons.

I reckon our increased reliance on video meetings because of the pandemic has shone a light on a problem that is actually not NEW. Most meetings are designed poorly (or not at all) without acknowledging key elements of how human beings communicate and collaborate.

I am not one of those people who hate meetings, because I don’t attend meetings. I meet up with other people in working sessions, briefings, or workshops where I know what I need to achieve - and then I achieve it. And I use the right technology for the job. I don’t let technology drive the agenda of my communication.

Because tech is an enabler not the central figure in my approach to communication.

What is technology

Tech is not the sexy be all and end all - its just a way to get stuff done. 

• When I write notes in my notepad I am using technology 

• When I listen to the radio I am using technology 

• When I send my colleague an email I am using technology 

• When I share a PowerPoint slide I am using technology 

• When I text my loved one I am using technology 

What really important in these scenarios is what I write in my notepad, the music I hear on the radio, the tone I take with my colleague, the story I tell with my PowerPoint slide and the love I share with my family. The technology is just the channel. It’s not what matters.

So what does matter?

Firstly … 

The people you are communicating with: 

• Who are they

• What do they care about

• What are they trying to achieve?

• What communication styles do they prefer?

Secondly …

Your key messages and style:

• What are YOU trying to understand or convey?

• What is your preferred communication style?

Human dynamics

And both these things exist in the sometimes muddly and sometimes, electric world of human dynamics

Consider …

• What mood is the person you are talking to in?

• How interested are they in what you are talking about

• What’s the context? What distractions are there?

• How much competition is there for your attention?

• How expert is the person you are talking to? How expert are you?

• How senior are they?

• What is their culture? What’s your culture? What’s the business culture?

• Do you like each other? 

An understanding of these things will help you be a much better communicator. The cold hard truth is that no matter what tech you use - great communication is hard.

It was always a myth that great communication happened around the water cooler, spontaneously with no preparation. Don’t let video conference fatigue force you to buy into that myth.

What you can do

You need to do a lot of prep to get it right:

• Frame and refine your questions and ideas

• Consider who is best to communicate with 

• Decide when to communicate and how often and for how long

• Decide on the level of complexity to work at

• Prepare graphs, datacubes, videos, diagrams  etc beforehand to refine your message

So when it comes to communication tech like paper and pens, radio waves and the internet we have a tendency to let those channels dominate and determine the way we communicate. But really it should be the other way around. Who are you talking to? What do they care about? What do you need to convey? The mechanism you use to communicate will always be secondary to those things.

So what do you think? Too controversial? Or spot on? I’d love to hear your thoughts :)