Things About People #2: Communication
It’s been a funny few weeks (two to be exact). This is a note to myself as much as anyone else.
It should be noted that people are limited in communication. We are limited in what we can express, limited in what we can hear, and especially limited in what we can process. This is true of all humans, we are all limited.
I don’t know about you, but right this moment I have about 25 things that need to be managed. Some involve others, some are just simple things like organizing my tool belt. Some, like sorting out my burning man camp involve countless people, variables, unforeseen circumstances, and personal actions that aren’t getting done. I am constantly processing ALL of these things at any given time. Sure, there is some compartmentalization, but for the most part my to do list is running in the background. It’s sucking processor power, speed and performance.
I am constantly dealing with these things, and I think that I am communicating most of my thoughts to the people who it affects. I’d like this to be the case. I feel like I am constantly telling everyone everything about my life.
This is not the case. Turns out most of the sharing is going on in my head right before I go to sleep.
At the same time, nearly everyone I know is also processing far too much and trying to communicate… via telepathy. So clearly, there are breakdowns in communication. I am thinking you should already know this thing I never told you, details of that thing I need to do that affects you are assumed to be known… etc.
Plus, I never listen. Ha. take that. I am trying to listen, sure. But my mind is full of it’s very own noise. I am working on 45 things here, while listening to you. Don’t worry. You are doing it to. To me.
So things are going to slip our minds. Things are going to be left at home (like your burning man ticket). Things are going to change. People will be upset. Feelings will be hurt. I promise it is not personal.
Part of what is going to make us as people better communicators is practice. Tell people what you are doing. Tell people what’s going on in your head. Open up. Be a fool. Don’t worry, be cool. We’re all in this together.
And make a list, damnit.
Tags: communication, Things about people
August 21st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
We are doing a lot of communicating nonverbally, you know. I can tell that you have a lot on your mind simply by the way you carry your shoulders, brother.