Communicaton and Implementation

I have been focusing on Health Care lately with good reason. Both personal and in the larger sense.

A consistent theme through my work is to understand how communication has changed in the work place. Seems odd to even suggest that a category as fundamental as communication can change.

What changes is our need. And, the technology or manner that we use to communicate.

When I was a young stage manager, I had a profound experience. I had prepared an Opera House stage for one of the greatest legends in jazz. A great artist and person.

Following rehearsal, I asked the crew to rearrange some lighting, believing that I was helping this virtuoso musician . The crew responded with equal respect and gladly made the changes, even though they were not easy to complete.

Minutes before curtain, as the audience waited, I brought the pianist to the wings, ready to go on.

He looked at me and said "Sal, you moved the piano further to the center of the stage". Yes, I replied, eager to tell him of my decision to change the lights.

Sadly, he looked at me and said: "I can't walk that far without a cane and I did not want the audience to know that".

It was a lesson immediately placed in my heart, as he bravely made the journey to play the piano.

Communication and implementation are often a simultaneous event in today's work world. It is something that the customer has taught us. It simply is necessary in the kind of environment we live and work in.

The lesson I learned that night is one I am still trying to understand. Intentions can be good and implementation complete. But somewhere, in fact always, lies that fundamental need to communicate. Often, it's about critical issues that we just don't see.

Sal