Courage: A Vital Ingredient

It has been written and articulated by many both inside and outside the communication profession that communication is not easy. To say the least, two people making a connection and then maintaining it is not always smooth sailing. The same goes for multiple publics. Attempts by communication are filled with detours, stops and starts, wrong turns, and good old fashioned misunderstandings. It is enough to make most wonder why any of us try to communicate at all. We do, of course, because we are social creatures and connecting with others on some level represents one of our fundamental needs.

However, wanting to communicate well does not always result in communicating well. I want to be a multi-millionaire, for instance, but still have a long way to go before taking a bite out of that particular pie in the sky. Successful communication often takes commitment, perseverance, and an acknowledgement that in our world of constant interaction one is going to fall short as often as they succeed. I, for one, wish that was not the case, but wishing and achieving as tangible entities rarely swim in the same pool. Effective communication represents an ideal much in the same way as being unflinchingly loyal or unwaveringly brave do.

In a special sense, striving to be an effective communicator requires a level of courage that, while not unique, nevertheless should be recognized. Any time a person attempts a public act with the knowledge they may very well fall short and be judged by others on the success or failure of their effort, courage is part of the mix. It is not easy for any of us to put ourselves on the line in that way. None of us like failure or rejection, yet this is what we risk when connections are attempted. While such bravery may not be a par of rescuing a child out of a burning building, nevertheless it is important for us to recognize courage as a vital ingredient in the act of communication.