COMMUNICATION (தகவல் தொடர்பு)

Lucid speech (தெளிவாக எடுத்துரைத்தல்)

As we all know, Communication has become one single predominant factor in all walks of life, particularly in corporate sector. It plays key role starting from getting selected in interviews, exchange ideas in meetings, communication with subordinates, pears and superiors, providing feed back to management and customers, marketing and selling as well as negotiation with contractors. Group discussion has become a standard practice in selection interviews. It also plays a vital role in Human Resource Development field starting from selection, induction, training, performance review, and motivation.

It is estimated that 90% of work time of a manager goes in communicating with other Executives, Investors, Customers, The Press or in making presentations.

While allotting a task, the head has to clearly explain the scope, responsibility and resources available to the individual concerned. Here, communication plays a vital role. If one lacks communication skill, he would not be in a position to make the best use of his knowledge or experience to get the work done effectively. The great poet compares an individual with lack of communication skill with that of a flower without fragrance. The couplet is as follows.

இணரூழ்த்தும் நாறா மலரனையர் கற்றது

உணர விரித்துரையா தார் ( 650)   

Inaroozhthum Naara Malaranaiyar Katrathu
Unara Virithuraiya  Dar.   
 
தாம் கற்ற நூற்பொருளை பிறர் புரியும் படி விளங்க வைக்க முடியாதவர், கொத்தாக மலந்திருந்த போதிலும், மணம்கமிழாத  மலருக்கு ஒப்பாவார்.

  
A learned person who cannot express his knowledge to others 

is as good as a bunch of flowers blossoming in clusters without

transmitting any fragrance.

Brevity in Talk (சுருங்கச் சொல்லல்)

In the modern era of communication explosion, conveying a message in precise and concise term with clarity is of paramount importance. In the age of SMS, Twitter this ‘Kural” is most relevant. No one has the time or patience to hear long winding lecture. Unless otherwise one has mastery over a subject, he will not be able to convey it briefly in simple words.

Brevity in talk or speech, demands the person to think deeply and couch all ideas in short sentences, avoiding superfluous words. It is not of out of place to mention about Churchill asking for more time for delivering short lecture. This also facilitates reaching his ideas to the target audience who otherwise would miss the message in the flood of words. Their attention also gets drifted when they are forced hear long winding sentences. In fact, what the great Tiruvalluvar indicated is that, ‘There is always diarrhea of words when the speaker suffers from constipation of ideas’. It is very clear from this couplet, that The Great Tiruvalluvar was far ahead of his time as his work Tirukkural itself is an outstanding example of his postulates. While the trend at that period of time was to write very descriptive, long, narratives classics, he had the courage of conviction to bring out best organized work, conveying a message in a couplet containing exactly in seven words, which would stand the test of time for centuries.

In fact, a long article can be written to expand upon each of the Tirukkural’s couplets. Another greatness of this precise writing is to provoke the reader for further thinking and interpretation. He walked the talk and set an example of success by his own work.

பலசொல்லக் காமுறுவர்  மன்றமா சற்ற
சில சொல்லில் தேற்றாதவர் (649)

Palasolla Kamuruvar Manrama Satra
Sila Sollal Therraathavar

தேவைப்படும்  குறைவானவான   சொற்களில் விளங்க வைக்க முடியாதவரே பல சொற்கள் சொல்ல  விழைவர்

 Only those who are incapable of conveying a subject matter in   

 precise terms would love to use superfluous  words.   

  

Power of Speech (பேச்சு திறன் )

During any negotiation or discussion, one should utter carefully thought out measured words which could not be won over by other apt or more powerful argument. This can be possible only when one does his proper home work and acquire deep knowledge and good presence of mind. Most successful CEO’ are extremely good not only in their effective speech delivery but also negotiation skill. They eventually get the credit of “Last word” in any forum. Emergence of leaders in politics, religion or corporate sectors solely depends upon their power of speech which can sway the audience to his favour. This can save them from very critical situations too. This essential quality is brought in the following couplet.

 சொல்லுக சொல்லிப் பிறிதோர்சொல் அச்சொல்லை
 வெல்லுஞ் சொல் இன்மையரிந்து  (645)

 Soluga Solirp Prithorchol Achchollai
 Vellum Chol Inmaiyarindhu

 ஒரு சொல்லைச் சொல்வதற்கு முன் வேறொரு சொல் அதை

 வெல்ல  இயலாது என்று நிர்ணியத்த பிறகே சொல்ல வேண்டும்   

Speaking with Purpose (குறிக்கோளுடன் பேசுதல்)

The speech should always be purposeful and only words conveying the message must be uttered. Concerted effort should be made to avoid irrelevant and superfluous words. One, who speaks with purpose command respect and the objective of the speaker would also be achieved. On the contrary, people who have a tendency to be garrulous, achieve nothing and waste precious time of self and the whole lot of listeners. A serious respected professional would never hazard empty talks. The following couplet stresses the importance of speaking with purpose.

 சொல்லுக சொல்லிப் பயனுடைய; சொல்லற்க
 சொல்லிற் பயனிலாச் சொல் (200)

            
 Soluga Solirp Payanudaiya; Sollarka
 Solllir Payanilach Sol.

பேச்சில் கருத்தை விளக்க தேவையான சொற்களையே பயன்

படுத்த வேண்டும். தேவையற்ற  சொற்களை தவிர்க வேண்டும்..

Controlled Talk (நாவடக்கம் )

The sage in the following ‘Kural’ brings home the great importance of exercising restraint during conversation.He sends two strong messages. In one, he warns people to guard their tongue and avoid using flippant remarks for which the person would regret latter due to the pain it would inflict on others and ultimately land him in dire straits. Uncontrolled talk results due to the inflated ego of high achievers who reach top echelon of management too soon. It can also happen to people at lower rung due to the frustration or anger resulting from inferiority complex. That is why, the sage had used the important word “what ever be the status” of a person meaning whether he is big or small in an organisational hierarchy or societyin general for that matter.

Second advice is to exercise caution before giving any promise. Once commitment is made, he has to fulfill it at any cost, lest, his reputation would get irreparably damaged, leaving him in deep sorrow for life. In business, faith and commitment are of paramount importance and once credibility is lost, it will be very difficult to regain the same

யாகவ  ராயினும் நாகாக்க காவாக்கால்
சோகாப்பர் சொல்லிழக்கப் பட்டு (127)

 Yagava Rayinum Nakakka Kavakkal
 Sokappaer Solizhakkap  Pattu

 ஒருவர் எந்த நிலையில இருந்த போதிலும்,  கவனித்து  பேச     
 வேண்டும்;  தவறினால் அவமானத்திற்கு உள்ளாகி சோகத்தில் ஆழ  
 நேரிடும்.

    

 Whatever be one’s status, he or she must exercise great control

 over the talk, failing which, it would land the person in deep   

 misery  and shame.

 Commitment (வாக்குறுதி)

The sage reiterates the message given in the earlier ‘kural” with special reference to commitment. He advises everyone to exercise caution before giving a flippant promise or announce any plan without adequate thought process. For a person in power, whether in business or government, keeping up the promise is most essential, as all concerned repose faith in him. Any default will shake their basic confidence in him by all concerned questioning his integrity that would be detrimental to his very existence. Hence, one must honour his words at any cost. Broken promises lead to broken relationship destroying all good will one earned for a long time. The couplet is given below.

சொல்லுதல் யார்க்கும் எளிய அரியவாம்
சொல்லிய வண்ணம் செயல் (664)
        
 Solluthal Yaarkkum Eliya Ariyavaam
 Solliya Vannam Seyal

 வாக்கு கொடுப்பது யாருக்கும் மிக எளிதாகும், ஆனால் அதனை
 நிறைவேற்றுவதோ மிக கடின செயலாகும்
      
 It is very easy for anyone to give a promise but very difficult to execute the action as committed.