Get Past Nonversations

Corporate communication analysis based on more than two decades of change consulting. Name for the common cultural problem courtesy of The Emotionary: Words that don't exist for feelings that do.









Nonversation. When you speak up, but the powers that be are not listening.



You know the feeling. You've got great ideas. But your boss's boss's boss has already predetermined the "correct" path for your project. Or your boss, trying (appropriately) to keep her project manageable, simply declares your ideas "out of scope" and moves on. Or the culture you're in only believes in great ideas if you can prove that they've already been proven elsewhere.



You speak up in the first few meetings about the project. You even pull your boss aside in a confidential conversation trying to get her to pay attention to your ideas.



But after a while, you realize everything you say is falling on deaf ears. So you make it easier for yourself. You just stop trying.


What to Do: Never stop trying! (Up to 3 times.) Who else is going to speak loud enough for those deaf ears to hear. But if you've tried — really, really tried — and you're still not getting anywhere, it's time to move on! Either within the company...to a different manager, whose ears are not so deaf. Or, if that deafness is pervasive throughout the company, then get up and out of there entirely! Try to break through up to three times, then move on!