By Barb Kachelski, CAE
I had all the bases covered at CUES Annual Convention in Cancun! Or so I thought.
Before the event, my co-workers and I had scheduled videotaping times for a dozen subject matter experts for the Center for Credit Union Board Excellence. The backdrop, lights, video camera and staging were set. A first-time videotaper had been trained. And, learning from experience that people inadvertently interrupt sessions, I had made a sign and taped it to the door outside the room we'd be using. The sign said: “Videotaping in Progress. Please do not come in or knock.”
Videotaping of the first subject matter expert was underway when someone opened the door. Guess what? He didn’t read English, and I hadn’t thought of that as a possibility. What was clear communication to me meant absolutely nothing to him.
The consequences in this case were minor, and the fix was easy. I wrote a second sign that said “ALTO – no entrada y no tocar.” (STOP – don’t enter and don’t knock.)
But the experience has me thinking: Are there other times when I think I’m communicating clearly when others’ lack of understanding isn’t so evident? How do I prevent or fix those situations?
Do you have some advice you are willing to share?
Barb Kachelski, CAE, is CUES' SVP/chief operating officer.
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