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Distract Me

5 min read

Fardad, and a phone call for you to eavesdrop

So I just had a phone call with Fardad, he used to be an ok friend. I mean, I’ve had many friends, but there have only been a handful with whom I would discuss my life matters. Fardad has consistently been one of them, but it is only after he finished his bachelor that I often end up hanging up the phone wiser that I picked it up.

I do not know how this came to be.
I am but happy about it.
We talk frequently.

When I run into issues with people, I often mention it to him in our bi-nightly phone-calls. In these conversations he often sounds like:

Aha. Ok. Yes. Yes.

You are very right. I also noticed a similar thing there.

That is correct.

Actually, I think that is not necessarily true.

And that my friends, is how he gets the party started.

Down with the pyramid

As it is with almost anything in this world, there are many different communication patterns and styles. I believe we should

  1. Be aware of their existence.
  2. Be able to identify them in ourselves and others.
  3. Be mindful of what style we are using at a given moment.
  4. Be able to switch our style according to the goals and context of each communication

In this post, I would like to object to the myth that Answer First Communication AKA the Pyramid Principle is the one true right way of communication in a corporation.

Different Styles of communication

Storytelling: Narrative communication focuses on telling a story to convey information or make a point. This approach can be engaging and memorable. It is well-suited for presentations or discussions where you want to captivate your audience and make the content relatable.

Socratic Questioning: This approach involves asking open-ended questions to stimulate critical thinking and engage in a dialogue to arrive at a solution or decision collaboratively. It is effective when facilitating group discussions, fostering learning environments, or when dealing with complex problems that require collective insights.

Metaphorical Communication: Metaphors and analogies can be powerful tools for conveying complex ideas by comparing them to familiar concepts. This can make abstract or technical information more accessible. It’s particularly useful when explaining intricate concepts to a non-expert audience or when seeking creative solutions.

Problem-Centric Communication: Instead of starting with a conclusion or main point (as in the Pyramid Principle), this approach begins by presenting a problem or challenge and then explores potential solutions or insights collaboratively. It’s ideal for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, or any context where problem-solving and consensus-building are critical.

Empathy-Driven Communication: This approach prioritizes understanding the emotions and needs of the audience. It involves active listening, validating feelings, and tailoring communication to address those needs. It’s essential in situations where building trust, fostering collaboration, or providing emotional support are key objectives.

Ethical or Values-Based Communication: Communication that aligns with ethical principles or core values can resonate deeply with an audience and guide decision-making. It’s suitable for conveying messages that involve ethics, integrity, or values alignment, such as corporate social responsibility initiatives or personal belief systems.

Futurist or Scenario-Based Communication: This involves presenting multiple future scenarios or possibilities to help stakeholders anticipate potential changes and make more informed decisions. It’s valuable in strategic planning, risk assessment, or any situation where envisioning various outcomes is beneficial.

Rhetorical Communication: This style emphasizes persuasive techniques, such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to influence opinions, decisions, or actions. It’s effective when trying to convince or motivate others, such as in marketing, advocacy, or public speaking.

Artistic or Creative Communication: Leveraging artistic elements like poetry, music, or visual arts can add creativity and emotional depth to your message. It’s suitable for conveying messages that require emotional resonance or creative expression, such as storytelling in the arts or advertising.

Role-Play and Simulation: This approach involves creating scenarios or simulations where participants can actively engage and experience the topic or problem being discussed. It’s beneficial for training, team-building, or educational purposes, where immersive learning is desired.

Experiential Communication: Instead of presenting information, experiential communication encourages individuals to learn through hands-on experiences or experiments. It’s effective in workshops, training sessions, or any context where active participation and practical learning are essential.

Reverse Engineering Communication: Starting with the end result or desired outcome and working backward to understand the steps or processes involved. It’s useful in problem-solving, project planning, or process optimization, where a clear understanding of the desired outcome is crucial.

Chaos Communication: Embracing unpredictability and randomness in communication to encourage creative thinking and novel ideas. It can be applied in brainstorming sessions, innovation workshops, or any environment where you want to break free from conventional thinking patterns.

Intuitive Communication: Trusting intuition and instinct in decision-making and communication rather than relying solely on analytical or logical reasoning. It’s valuable in situations where quick, instinctual decisions are required, such as crisis management or creative problem-solving.

Scientific Communication: Scientific communication involves presenting information in a structured and data-driven manner. It relies on evidence, research findings, and logical reasoning to convey complex scientific concepts. It’s suitable for academic presentations, research reports, and discussions in scientific and technical fields.

Answer First Communication: Answer First Communication involves providing a concise and direct answer or solution upfront, followed by supporting details and context. It’s particularly effective when dealing with time-sensitive inquiries, where the audience seeks immediate clarity and prefers a straightforward response. It helps capture attention and ensures that the main point is clear from the beginning.

Distracted: The cutest and most honest way of being

Today we learned that communication style doesn’t matter and if you present the user with enough information they will get tired and accept everything you say.

I think if a company insists so much on answer first communication they might become so performant and to the point. But they will become less responsive to the world and lose the big picture.

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