a little communication can go a long way

these days, the buzz word at our nonprofit is communication. everyone's talking about it (but no one's doing it...). but, after watching bourne ultimatum last night, i'm left wondering: what is effective communication in the workplace anyway? those who work for the CIA, at least in the movies, don't even flinch before throwing their opinion at their colleague--a form of direct communication i can't ever see being the norm at my place of employment. but it doesn't even matter, because it still didn't get them (the CIA) anywhere. maybe because the loudly voiced opinions were just the cover-up for all the communicating going on behind the curtain...?

in the real world, how are we supposed to communicate with our managers? how are we supposed to communicate as managers? it's not possible that everyone can be open and direct and keep their jobs. there are times when we're supposed to keep our mouths shut... right???

i guess my strategy is two-fold. first, i communicate profusely through email (all the while avoiding, or trying to avoid, getting into email "debates" or awkward, unproductive back-and-forths). for those situations, i try to schedule both time and space so i can give (and get?) direct feedback.

like most things, it looks good on paper. but it doesn't work in real life. i still manage to have ridiculous email conversations that go on for days and could've only lasted 5 minutes had the people involved been in the same room. i still get upset when i receive emails that surprise me or make me feel i'm being taken advantage of. and i still am [occasionally] completely unprepared for what a colleague, staff member or supervisor says to me in a face-to-face meeting.

maybe what actors playing government officials have down is portraying the art of thinking on your feet, rather than the art of communicating effectively. after all, the more you're hiding, the more you have to cover up. but i would still love to work in a business where you are allowed to say/shout whatever's on your mind without any serious repercussion. sometimes you end up looking like an ass, but--hey--so does your colleague who just yelled back. and, sometimes, you might actually say something that makes a difference--even though that doesn't happen in the movies...