Why Communication Isn't Important

 

That's right.

Have you ever noticed how the best way to learn is to watch people who are really screwing it up? 

Call it the Tool Time Phenomenon.

I've been reminded recently that if you really want to destroy your chances of success, the best thing you can do is neglect communication.

Specifically in this case, if you want to make a mess of things be sure to rely on email communication with your team for simple one-sentence questions even though they are about 20 steps away from your desk. 

Whatever you do, don't have weekly one-on-ones with your team to discuss their concerns and feedback, talk about status of current work, and future work and milestones that are relevant to them as an individual.

Oh Oh!  Be sure to undervalue the importance of team tag-ups too, and when you do have team discussions, be sure to bog it down by making everyone sit through your gathering of status updates (because you didn't do that in a one-on-one).

When there are activities going on that are related to your team's work, be sure to not share it, even as an F.Y.I.  No, instead you should figure that if you can't think of how it impacts their work in some direct way, there's no reason for them to know anything about it.

What other lessons are waiting out there for all of us?  Have you witnessed a Tim "The Toolman" Taylor performing some educational magic on what not to do with regards to communication?  Do share!

-Josh