A Little Communication Goes a Long Way

Alright. This is going to be a rant. That is all. We’re in the middle of crunch time on the project as it wraps up, and I don’t have time to really blog about anything substantial.

Gym

I was at the gym. As I usually am during lunch. Now its a recurring problem that the lockers in the changing rooms are squashed together, and so inevitably just as you sit down or put your belongings somewhere, the next guy needs to use the locker just underneath or just above.  This is frustrating, but something I can understand due to the obvious locations of the lockers.

Now, before I go on, I should mention that the gym is a ‘trendy working people gym’. It is not  a large establishment with all manner of equipmen; it has enough to get by and charges above average prices purely for location. The typical clientele include suits, people with fancy watches, and the odd lazy programmer who won’t walk an extra few minutes to a cheaper gym.

So I’m sitting on the bench putting my shoes on. This guy walks in, and evidently that awkward situation arises where he needs to ask me to shift over. Ofcourse he kind of hovers around faffing with his keys and whatnot. Then seeing that I haven’t taken his ultra-subtle cue, croaks out something that sounds like “excuse me”, and lifts his locker keys half way to indicate they’re the ones to blame.

I shift over. Turns out his was not the locker under mine, but to the side. To the same side I shift, so another little awkward exchange takes place where he tries to indicate through a gesture and a series of half-english guttural sounds that I am now blocking the way more than before.

FINALLY, I understand. I am now out the way, and LO’ and BEHOLD, he speaks english too! “Sorry, thanks”

Now I ask you – this guy evidently works in a corporate environment. By the look of things, one that pays fairly well and he needs to impress people. Why is it so hard to just plainly say “Sorry, I need the locker to your left” ? I mean what does he do at work? Surely communication skills are part of the toolset he requires for his job? Or maybe I am guessing too much here…

And those damn motorists…

So while I am on the communication topic, lets put aside verbal for a moment. Allow me to now rant about the next most frustrating lack of communication. Ever notice how when you’re on a busy road and some guy would like to turn in or cut across, and so he’s looking up and down at the line of never ending traffic in earnest?

Well, what gets me is that they really do want to be let in. By some kind fellow. However half the time they don’t want to make eye contact with anyone. So I’m driving along and thinking ‘oh I shall be nice to this fellow’. I’m looking at him. He notices my glance for a split second and breaks eye contact. Now he’s looking at the cars behind me. Great. Now I’m aware the guy behind me is wondering why I have slowed down, and I need to actually beep my horn to get the first guys attention so he can take the gap he so skillfully AVOIDED negotiating.

What can we learn from all this? When you need to communicate, keep the damn channels of communication OPEN.

end rant.