Communication Rules!

No, I'm not talking about grammar. Today, after our noon meal I grabbed a piece of candy out of the left-over Halloween candy jar. I ripped the wrapper off and popped the candy in my mouth. I turned to my wife and said, "Ah ree-y aak ees sma unk-a bg unk!" She laughed at my attempts to talk with my mouth full. I tried several times, but she only laughed harder. I started to giggle myself, and finally when things cleared out sufficiently I was able to speak clearly, "I really like these small chunks of Big Hunk!" We both had a good laugh over the silliness.

But that got me thinking. How often do we try to communicate something and we might as well be speaking a completely different language? The people we're talking to just don't get it!

Teamnet Ministries -- or any networking organization for that matter -- is fueled and driven by communication. LOTS of communication between all elements of the network! Every organization operates at some level of balance between functional and dysfunctional (just like families). Mark this down: The level of dysfunction is directly related to the presence of secrets and lies within the system. Conversely, the more honest and open the information flow within the system, the healthier the system. The system will work marvelously if all relevant information is freely shared -- in a language everyone can understand!

So, there needs to be a forum, or clearinghouse of sorts for sharing plans, ideas, visions, available funding, or whatever else. Or, a telephone call or email from one team leader to another, just to ask advice, or perhaps invite the other team to share a project. It seems to me we need to develop a culture of communication, where sharing with everyone in the system comes as naturally as breathing. Is that a worthy goal? Or practical? How can we do it?

Ok. Brainstorm with me here. I'm listening.