In an increasingly fast-paced world, communication has become a vital tool for the success of any organization. However, the way we communicate can be problematic, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
In this context, Karl Kasiel Blitz's proposal to use symbols instead of words to communicate in a more effective and healthy way provides us with interesting solution perspectives.
The idea that words can be lethal tools has been raised by various philosophers and thinkers throughout history. Words and speech manipulation has been a common strategy to persuade people of certain ideas or emotionally manipulate them. For this reason, Blitz proposed the use of simple symbols to communicate in a more efficient and healthy way.
Why symbols can be a more effective form of communication than words?
One of the main advantages of symbols is that they can be interpreted in a similar way by people of different cultures and languages. This allows a more universal and effective communication, especially in an increasingly globalized world where cultural and linguistic differences can lead to misunderstandings and difficulties.
Another important aspect is that symbols can convey emotions and feelings in a very powerful and effective way. Visual symbols can evoke an emotional response in the communication receiver, which can improve the quality of interpersonal relationships and reduce the possibility of misunderstanding or confusion.
Furthermore, communication through symbols can inspire creativity in the one who communicates. By finding new ways to convey information in visually appealing and powerful ways, you engage attention more effectively and increase the effectiveness of communication by facilitating remembrance.
However, it is important to take into account that when using symbols and limiting the number of words, the disadvantage may be a loss of nuances and details in the information communicated. Still, this approach can be very effective in conveying clear and concise ideas, especially in a world where information is becoming more abundant and people's attention is more and more limited.
In conclusion, Blitz's proposal to use symbols in communication is a valuable lesson that we can apply in our current world to improve effective communication in organizations. The use of symbols can simplify communication, convey powerful emotions and feelings, and enhance the creativity of communicators.
In fact, the need to simplify and improve communication has given rise to the creation of the famous emojis. These visual symbols have become increasingly popular in digital communication and their use has increased significantly in recent years. Emojis can effectively convey emotions and feelings, and can improve the clarity and conciseness of messages.
There is also a methodology that we apply at Arboleda Consultores called Lego Serious Play, in which the participants make their hands speak. Neuroscience tells us that the only brain that has the ability to verbalize is the rational one, but what about emotions and feelings? Many times it is not so easy to express how we feel in words, so representing this information with Lego can be very useful. When verbalizing emotions, a lot of information is lost, since even the emotional brain must first pass through the conscious or rational brain. The emotional brain is part of the subconscious brain.
"When you don't know what to do, trust your hands, they know what they have to do"
There are many other examples of visual communication that can be used to improve the clarity and effectiveness of communication in organizations.
One of the most popular examples is the use of infographics, which are visual representations of complex information that combine images, graphics, and text to clearly and concisely communicate an idea or concept by making the information more accessible and easy to understand.
Another example is mind maps, which are graphic representations that allow ideas to be organized and visualized in a clear and structured way, which facilitates comprehension and memory. Mind maps are created from a central idea that is represented in the center of the map and from there branches develop that connect and represent the related ideas. They usually include images, colors and keywords, making them attractive and easy to understand.
In short, the use of symbols, emojis, Legos Serious Play, infographics, mind maps, etc., in communication can be an effective strategy to improve the quality and effectiveness of communication in organizations, by enabling the construction of powerful messages, to evoke emotions and to reduce the possibility of misunderstandings and conflicts in interpersonal relationships.
We leave some links to articles related to Karl Kasiel Blitz, to learn more about his life and his contributions to communication:
If you are interested in improving communication in your organization, do not hesitate to contact us to discuss how to achieve your objectives regarding the Strategic Management of Human Talent and Soft Skills.
Comments