Post

Communication Bridges

   11th November, 2010

Idea Sex

The exchange of ideas and talking between and across cultural and geographic borders is one of the most important aspects of a society. Without exchange and specialization we would regress in our technological advancement. The reason that a person can specialize is because all the other needs that he has are produced by and taken care of by someone else. He merely gives something in exchange for an artifact. Similarly someone else will benefit from his speciality and give to him in exchange for what he produces. It links to the concept of synergy in that parts come together and create a greater whole than the sum of those parts.

None of this can take part without a link between parts. Therefore communication needs a perspective on specialization and ask how it can increase exchange. Applying this on different fields and parts of society, from personal communication & relationships to business & economics, would surface those bridging elements.

Being able to bridge of course has to do with proximity and that is exactly what the telephone, airplanes and the internet has shrunk. We communicate across distances and overcome what before separated us.

Not anything that relays information can be a link and bridge a gap, because of inefficiencies in that element. For example, not everyone has a bridge personality. So even though others might be able to communicate well, a person who has a bridge personality actually overcomes obstacles and is able to nurture collaboration and exchange.

To correctly frame a problem for solving communication we need to see, not merely the creation of bridges for information, but successful synergy and specialization as the end goals. And then the question becomes: What is it, besides the link between parts, that enables specialization and adds value?

Inspiration for this post:

  • Tjebbo v.d.Eijkhof

    In the process to make this happening, there are some challenges that needs tackeling:

    1. In the first place we need to handle fear. Synergy is only taking place when there is an commitment from both sides. Fear is in many situations what holds us back in communication to the full extend.
    2. Then there is the matter of definition. Because we are looking from so many different directions, we all have a different view of matters. That is the strength of the matter, but it is also the weakness of it. It al comes back to defining it in such a way, that we all know what everyone is saying.
    3. Then there is the matter of the control of the matter/or the process. We can have a expectation of mutual outcome, but we still work in this process with people, that all have their different goals/ideas. This can damage the trust that such a process demands.

    A number of years ago, (true story) during the para-olympics there was the 200m wheelchair racing. All 8 nations where represented and each one of the participants had trained extensively. When the start shot was given, the participants started to race and you could see that each one of them was very good in racing. There was a strong competion among them, each one of them wanted to win of course! But half way the race something happenend, one of the racers wheelchair broke down and he fall. His wheelchair broke into pieces and the racer fall to the ground. Everyone was chocked. The other racers stopped, looked back and as one they all hurried back to the one that was fallen. They all picked him up and what was left of the wheelchair and together they went to the finish. Not racing anymore and in one line they crossed the finish line. The audience stood to their feet and aplauded for a long time of what had happened. Who won? What was accomplished? How did it effect the racers, the audience, us?

    Tjebbo

  • Jeroen

    Fear, that must be one the key things. The ability to encourage people enough that they let go of fear is not easy to do. I tried to find a youtube video of the race but couldn’t find it. Do you have a link to the video or article about it. Would be great to save that so I can go back to it.

    Jeroen