Matt’s Cuppa

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I Uttered a little bit about Diigo last week, but you can read my feature length review over at eHub.
Mobile post sent by telecommatt using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

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“We can then make the ecological decision not to pollute the world with our own confusion.”

That quote is from the book The Buddha at War by Robert Sachs. What he’s referring to is our tendency to let things fall out of our mouth for reasons other than to communicate whatever it is we’ve said. For example, how many of us have dropped someone’s name at a networking function either to gain prestige or to facilitate an introduction?

I’m really drawn to this quotation because there are so many messages embedded in the words. (Being an environmental advocate, the ecological comparison won points with me as well.) I’ve spent the past few days reflecting on Sachs’ imagery. One can almost see a thick oily fog of conversation swirling around the average break room.

Sachs’ call to pay more attention to what we say to others is not a simple admonishment that we don’t lie or don’t gossip. It’s more like an invitation. He’s giving us permission to not say anything. And if you’ll pardon the pun, this like a breath of fresh air.

What Sachs’ is doing is relieving us of the burden of filling the air with sound. With this burden lifted, we begin to really notice what goes on around us. We pick up on details that were inaccessible to us before we stopped talking. And we begin to hear the real meaning beyond a person’s words.

All of this sounds good, but where’s the practical application, right? That is where things get really interesting! Chances are that if you say only what you actually mean to communicate, your conversation will be in much higher demand. Simply put, if you want to be recognized as an expert in your niche, stop offering advice on things that aren’t in your niche! Instead, use the time to observe the situation and identify the real needs.

There is an ethical responsibility that goes with Sachs’ words as well. It’s not enough to not say the wrong things. Once we’ve developed the skills to discern the difference between what is Sachs’ pollution of confusion, and what is not, we have a social obligation to use those skills to prevent harm rather than cause it. In other words, insider trading isn’t allowed!

If you’re like me you find it odd that not talking can increase your credibility and reputation. And that not speaking is a skill that must be developed. I think this highlights how mired in the pollution of our own confusion we each can get if we aren’t conscious of how we are contributing to the conversation.

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Sweetest Tweet Ever

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