Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

I spent a good part of this weekend thinking about communication. It was World War II weekend at my old job, and I was working as the (volunteer) military coordinator. I'd spent a few months communicating with participants through e-mail, and Friday began the test of just how WELL I'd communicated with them.

Really and truly, for the most part, all of the participants and I seemed to have been on the same page. But the communication between me and my (former) co-workers was a little off. I don't know if it was just that the dynamic had changed in the 7 months since I'd worked there or what, but I found myself amazed that I was ever able to get anything done at all in my 3 years there.

First of all, I'd ask someone to do something, and it had to get passed to 2 or 3 other people before it got done. It was like a game of telephone sometimes--I'd ask for a cooler of ice and someone would come up to me with a box of pens or something. Other times I would ask and just get radio silence. By the end of Saturday, I thought my legs were going to fall off from all of the back-and-forth I had to do when nobody else would answer a call.

But then there are more personal levels of communication. I actually felt infinitely more comfortable this weekend since I was there as a volunteer. I didn't have to worry about putting on a super professional front for everyone--certainly I maintained some professional tones, but it almost put me on the same level as everyone else there (as far as reenactors went, anyway). My conversations with my old supervisor were more relaxed, as well, since I didn't have to screen every single thing that came out of my mouth.

I also had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the guys and just talking with him for... I don't even know how long it was. At least 3 hours, I think (though it felt more like 20 minutes when it was all over). I haven't just been able to sit and just talk with someone like that for a really long time. Everyone's always too busy to just relax. I think we'd all be a little calmer and more grounded if we had conversations like that as often as possible.

Lastly, as I was at work today, I was noticing how some people talk to the non-native English speakers. I usually try to consciously use more common words to explain a (somewhat) complicated process. I don't just give them instructions as quickly and as detailed as I would some other people. Not because I think less of them, but because (as many of you know), my biggest pet peeve is INEFFICIENCY. I absolutely hate when anyone has to do anything more than once when the repeat could have been avoided somehow. So I figure that if I tell someone something in a more straightforward manner the first time through, then I will avoid having to go over it again and again shortly thereafter. So, yes... there are times in which I may sound a little repetitive or questioning, but I want to make sure people get the information they need exactly how they need it so that everyone involved has to spend less time getting things done.

(Someone please tell me that I'm not the only one who thinks this way!)

Anyway, those were the more serious thoughts running through my head this weekend. I had more fun than I've had in a long time--despite my near-stroke after the (intensely) illegal fireworks display and police visit from overhead. But we're trying not to think about that, just as we try not to think of the zombies too often. Right? Right.

:o)