Language

When thinking about the importance of punctuation and grammar for formal reports I began to see some clear reasons for a differentiation between formal written, informal written and spoken language.

Divided by a Common Language

Britain and the USA have been described as two nations divided by a common language – the language being English.  (The original quote is attributed to George Bernard Shaw, referring to England and America, but is often spread to other nations when referring to local variations in a common language).

Trust

It is said that it takes time to build trust but just a moment to destroy it. However, we trust others all the time without thinking about it.

Dissent can be Good

When everyone on the board or committee agrees on a course of action it’s often assumed to be the correct one; after all, everyone aggrees with it.  But is it the best?

Grow from the Bottom, Kill from the Top

Personnel at the work face are the key to organisational success; management is the key to organisational failure.  Good management is critical to quality but management’s ability to ensure success is limited by the staff who work on the front line.

I want to tell you a story…

This may seem obvious when pointed out but I’ve found that few people realise it otherwise – we all like stories.  As children we start off learning by experiencing the world but, once we start to understand language, our ability to learn accelerates and we soak up stories.

Rules and Sanctions

Rules are usually of limited value unless considered alongside corresponding sanctions.  Sanctions?  Yes, else why would anyone comply with the rules?