Museletter
-
June
2005
My
Muse
This month I want to write about communication and encryption. Encryption is used when we don't want people to know what we are saying, and communication is used when we do! In order to encrypt a message you have a 'key' which is known to both the recipient and the sender. A simple form of encryption is to add two letters on in the alphabet, so that a reads c, b reads d, c reads e etc. So a simple message 'reduce prices by ten per cent' reads 'tgfweg rtkegu da vgp rgt egpv'. Or a different type of encryption would be to take the next word in the dictionary so that our message now becomes: 'redwing prick bychop tenacious perambulate centenarian'. (By the way my dictionary says that bychop means a person born out of wedlock, so there's a new swearword for you!) If you received this message you would think it was complete gobbledegook, unless you knew the key to convert it back to English. This is similar to how we communicate: we send out words and the receiver understands the meaning of the words and then we have complete understanding.
Except
sometimes we
don't. Often, we
send out a
message that we
feel is
perfectly clear,
but isn't
understood in
the way we
meant. For
example, try
going up to
someone of the
opposite gender
who you like and
just say: 'I
like you'. How
many different
ways could that
be taken? It's
all down to the
'key' that we
use to interpret
the words that
we hear. Each of
us has a unique
'key' which is
made up of our
own experiences,
values, culture
and even
sometimes, mood.
And to make
it more
interesting
language is
constantly
changing and
evolving. When
did 'wicked'
become good?
When did 'cool'
become 'uncool'?
So how can you
be sure that
what you are
saying is
understood? How
can you be sure
what you
understand is
what was meant?
This month,
why don't you
take on my
'communication
challenge'
1. Raise your awareness while communicating with everyone
2. Start with the assumption you don't know what the other person means
3. Really listen - to them, not your own thoughts and interpretations
4. Clarify back to them what your understanding is of what they said
5. When you communicate, ask them to clarify back to you, what their understanding is of what you said.
6. Report back to me your findings.
Opportunity
to Contribute
The Anthony
Nolan Trust
takes back lives
from Leukemia by
managing and
recruiting new
donors to the
UK's most
successful bone
marrow register.
The trust is an
independent
charity which
relies on
financial
support from
individuals and
companies. If
you register,
you could have
the opportunity
of saving
someone's life.
The Trust are
having a big
push, and are
looking for
current members
to recommend a
friend, so that
the chances of
finding matching
donors are
increased. My
Museletter goes
out to nearly
800 people,
wouldn't it be
fantastic if 500
people
registered to go
on the register.
Please be
proactive, click
on this link and
help to
contribute to
the betterment
of our world. www.anthonynolan.org.uk
