You should communicate 'basic'ally right!

To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others…and especially when you are communicating with a 7 year old.

Some lessons in life are most effective especially when you are the perpetrator or at the receiving end! Either way it is a lesson well learnt!

It was 1989 (changed, shhh…I am a girl) and I was this wee one, full of laughter, life and chatter. One fine day, I was selected to be part of the welcome group at a function hosted for the then Governor of Karnataka. Since I was the youngest (and cute by all standards) I was to lead and got the maximum share in the welcoming rituals. I was to garland, do the aarti, put the tika on forehead and place the Mysore peta. That was like 4 tasks! Also, they told me that a helper would be placed strategically, ready with these things. What more, I would be photographed by the press and being seen in papers the next day was a high possibility. A girl can ask for nothing more..sigh!

Then began a week of practice. A crash course in walking, garlanding, doing the aarti, putting the right amount of tika, and of course the correct way to hold the Mysore peta! And they even gave me a light-weight plate, so that I wouldn’t drop the aarti (it’s kumkum and haldi in water). Instructions were whispered in my ear every day. For a 7 year old I was so confident and didn’t suffer from any nerves.

The D day dawned. I was in my finest traditional attire. The whole welcome party assembled at the door of Bangalore’s iconic landmark- The Townhall. The Governor arrived, there was frantic activity everywhere. I was hardly 3 foot nothing, couldn’t see much but the frenzied atmosphere told me that my time was nearing. This was THE MOMENT of my life!

I put my best foot forward! I walked, garlanded, did the aarti, put the tika and the mysore peta. I HAD DONE IT! I turned around, looked at everyone, and waited for the pleasant sounds of the claps in appreciation …but there was dead silence. Miss Sushma Balu had executed the 4 tasks remarkably and welcomed the PERSONAL ASSISTANT standing beside the Governor! Why? Because, nobody bothered to tell or point out the Governor to the little one!

So folks, I don’t know whether this incident prompted my decision to join Communications. But it certainly taught me more than one lesson in Communications. One, get the basics right. Two, never ASS U ME (assume)!

As Communications professionals, we are certainly a cool lot (excuse the narcissism) before any press meet or media event. But inside we are in a frenzy. Imagine, we get our messaging right, briefing is perfect, preparations are done, the spokesperson is ready, you are ready…but somebody has actually forgotten to tell the spokesperson that the event is today and not tomorrow! 

Similarly, your business may be booming, profits soaring, order books overflowing, but did you miss compliance? Did u 'accidentally overlook' an ethical/legal thing? All these ‘basic’ things could make your end result redundant if you don’t get it right. One small mistake, assumption or oversight could defeat the entire purpose and you may end up garlanding the PA!