Comparing contribution on charts....2

Continuing from the situation presented in the Post of the same title on 26th April, the question asked was:

"if I want to know is how the composition of my portfolio has changed over the priod tracked, i.e. if I had allocated a certain percentge of my investments to each of the three shares on 1st January, 2011, based on my risk perception and judgment, do the values of the three shares held reflect an altered situaion on 1st January, 2012?"
A Stacked Bar Graph was presented as an option and a question asked :

"Is there a better way of showing this movement?"
In an effort to answer that question, we present the same data in the form of another graph; this time a Pie Chart.

The position on 1st January, 2011:

The position on1st December, 2011:

A quick glance at the two charts above is adequate to make out (at least to me) that proportion of holdings in Unitech has reduced and that in Tata Motors has increased in this 11-month period, ITC remaining relatively unchanged. Or, looked at another way, Tata Motors now contributes more to my assets in December 2011 than it did in January 2011, and Unitech lower, despite me not having made any transactions during this period.

So, as a decision trigger, if I still need to allocate my funds in the same proportion as on 1st January, 2011, I may need to buy some Unitech and sell some Tata Motors shares.

Hence, to me this look like a better way of presenting this data.

Do you agree?

The Communication Barrier...2

Continuing from the last post, the message could very easily have been fixed by changing "you have miles to go" to "you will go miles". Though one could debate whether "you will go miles" is correct language, the point being made is, are we able to communicate the right message even with language that may not be pefect ? If yes, then the communicaion has served its purpose.

The email should have been

Quote

Hi R / A,

The whole ICC team is proud of you both.

Though the report was new to both of you, still you managed to meet the timelines. Thanks for your efforts you have put in today. You will go miles.

Keep up the good and hard work.

Unquote

Of course, as language skills improve, the communication can get finer and finer.

Here is another example of poor communication that results in making the boss a villain.

This is a Messenger chat between the Business Head and a Manager, on a day when the Senior Manager, who is in between the Business Head and the Manager, is on leave.

Quote

Business Head : I hear you are "in charge" today

Manager : hahah I am trying to cover up for Seema

Unquote

In one fell swoop, the Manager, by saying that he is “trying to cover up for Seema” has made Seema, his boss, a criminal by making it sound as if she has done something he need to “cover up” for.

What should he have written ?

Quote

Business Head : I hear you are "in charge" today

Manager : hahah I am trying to cover up for Seema

Unquote

What seems to be the problem ?

The Manager is either challenged in the language he is communicating in, or has not taken adequate pains to read through a message he intends sending. Of course he could also be taking the opportunity to bad mouth his boss to his boss’ boss and ingratiate himself, but for the present we will discount that possibility.

Challenge with the language can be fixed, but it is normally a gradual process and the individual needs to take charge of the process.

Wilful bad-mouthing of his boss cannot be fixed through any intervention, unless it is through a forced holiday from work in a penitentiary.

Taking pains with a written message is a skill that can be taught (and learnt) through a structured programme and increased consciousness of the damage an incorrect message can cause.

The Communication Barrier

For a large number of people to work towards a common objective of organisational success, communication becomes a key facilitator. It is important for leaders to be able to communicate expectations and guidance in clear and unambiguous terms and for the led to be able to receive them in the manner intended by the communicator.

This most basic of tools, used by human beings in non-business situations as well, is often responsible for creating situations when not used correctly.

The folowing is an example of a communication that ended up conveying a message opposite to what was intended :

Quote

Hi R / A,

The whole ICC team is proud of you both.

Though the report was new to both of you, still you managed to meet the timelines. Thanks for your efforts you have put in today. You still have miles to go.

Keep up the good and hard work

Unquote

What appears to be the intention of the person sending the email ?

Praise R and A, two of his team-members, who have done a good job with a report even though it was new to them.

What does his email convey ?

That though it is commendable they met the timelines with a new report, they “still have miles to go”, i.e. they need to do a lot more before they can consider themselves to be good employees.

How would you have written this email if the intention was to convey praise ?

Conclusion

Young leaders need to work on ensuring that their communications skills in general, and language skills in particular, are polished to the extent required by their line of work. And, once polished, continue to ensure, through regular practice, that it stays polished.