FROM SUCCESS EDUCATION COURSE
Audio
Long before the advent of modern communications technology and the Internet, I understood the power and significance of communications networking. If we learned to network and communicate effectively, and combined those skills with modern communications technology, we could revolutionize and restructure all the social, economic and political systems, and bypass the systems that had been entrenched for centuries. This is precisely what is happening for better or worse.
Both the powers structure and the people have utilized modern communications technology for different ends. The power structure has utilized the technology to further extend their control and surveillance; monitoring and tracking systems, to further protect the cartels and monopolies. The people have responded with counter-measures to insure their continued privacy and freedom, but not yet to the degree necessary to shift power away from the old paradigm of authoritarian command and control systems.
Changing the Way We Think
I spent many years perfecting the tools and processes for communications networking, and developing training programs for people and organizations. What I found lacking was the integration between various communications systems, and the way people thought was still entrenched in an old way of thinking. Without changing the way people think, what was possible with the new technology would continue to evade us.
Over the last twenty years, we’ve seen huge leaps in the capabilities of modern communications technology, but as human beings, we’ve lagged far behind the technology and have not developed the intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of communications sufficient to keep pace with the external, technological development. If education and human development do not keep pace with the technological advances, machines will soon be telling us what to think, what to say and how to act. Watch out humanity, “The Matrix” is right around the corner.
Can you imagine what would happen if we organized communications strategically, on local, regional, national and global levels simultaneously? All the centuries of development leading us to world government could be undermined instantaneously by one, well-organized, well-funded communication networking system that bypasses those lines of authority and provided access to information and resources for living the good life free of government and corporate interference. This is the true power and significance of communications networking for revolutionizing the way we do business in a free enterprise economy today.
Communications is the Key
So what is communications? Let’s discuss some principles and aspects of communications. From a systems perspective, communications is the key to holding any system together whether that system is you, you in relationship with another, or you in relationship with an organization. Communications may be intrapersonal, interpersonal or organizational. Communications is derived from the Latin “communicare” which means, “to share.” So whether or not communications is happening or not depends on the skill and awareness that you have about it. Being skilled on all these levels is important.
Technological Wonders and Human Beings
Since the introduction of the microchip and the personal computer, high quality digital recording and CD’s, videotape and DVD’s, telephones and cell phones, fax machines, pagers, and satellites with teleconferencing capabilities, the possibilities for effectively organizing communications and networking have never been greater.
With the advent of modern communications technology and the Internet, with interactive multi-media, streaming audio and video, high-speed, broadband, fiber optic and microwave networks, we’re about to embark on the total integration of information and communication systems.
Other communications resources include: books, publications, periodicals, directories, libraries, resource centers, radio and television broadcasting, cable and satellite television.
At this stage, technology is far ahead of education and human development and the ethical questions being raised everyday are mostly left unanswered. We must stay in control of the machines and the application of technology or else become robots ourselves.
It takes a strong backbone to refuse to submit to machine priorities. How often do we have to fight a machine to get something done, or a clerk in government office acting like a machine? We are not robots and machines. We are flesh and blood human beings and better start acting like it, or we’ll lose our humanity in the name of progress.
Whole Systems
It will take comprehension of whole systems and teams of generalists to mediate this technological revolution in information processing, marketing, education and entertainment. To screen the vast information systems for quality content, relevant data, meaningful information and relationships is the agenda of any good information manager or communicator.
With the advent of this technology and an educated people, the creation of a new, global republic is imminently possible. But as with all technologies and tools, the responsibility for their use and appropriate application is up to the individuals and companies committed to free enterprise principles today.
We at ICR have organized communications resources into 24 systems areas for categorization and retrieval.
Basic Communications Skills
Basic communications skills include the ability to listen, to speak capably in one or many languages, or to be able to express oneself through movement or art. Musicians, dancers and artists have found outlets for communications beyond mere language. Great poets utilize the language capably to invoke words, images and symbols to communicate ideas, stories or emotions.. Great storytellers weave a tale that embodies the myths of a culture throughout time. These are all forms of communications.
This includes basic technology skills involving computers, audio and video recording, and other basic communications tools.
Listening Ability and Cognitive Dysfunction
The importance of listening cannot be understated. Most people suffer from listening disabilities or some cognitive dysfunction that makes communications difficult, if not impossible. Cognitive dysfunction is the inability to take in new information that might challenge deeply held beliefs or rock your self-identity. New information is blocked with a typical excuse, and one quickly escapes into denial or a refusal to communicate as a defensive reaction. Start noticing when this happens with you.
For communications or sharing to happen at all, there must be a two-way street of information and energy. Listening is one pole. Speaking is often the other. Both are necessary to complete the circuit. Like electricity, no current can flow without both poles being wired up. The same is true of communications. Practice good listening. Cognitive dissonance can be healed.
Be in the Present
True communications is always happening in the present. If you are not listening, you are not present. If your mind is somewhere else, then you are not present. If you are not present, no communications is possible. If you are not paying attention and being present, then no current can flow or sharing can happen.
Oftentimes, our conversations are full of the superficial, telling the same old story from our past that keeps us stuck in old identifications. There is a lot of chatter going on, and often very little real or true communications.
Everybody talks about the weather and sports and the good ol’ same stories that keep us stuck in a rut of non-communications. Be present, take a risk, and change your story and conversation to something that really matters. Come from the heart, tell the truth and watch the currency move. True communications can be very liberating if you give it a chance despite how uncomfortable you might feel.
If you can notice this distinction and stop the chatter, then you’ll make a giant stride toward becoming an effective communicator. Take the risk.
Intrapersonal Communications
Intrapersonal communications is the inner dialogue and “sharing”between your body, mind, heart and soul. All communications begins within you. The goal is to be familiar enough with all the aspects of your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies, and to have harmony and communications on all levels.
If there are many voices or dialogues within you in conflict, then it’s a rocky road to success. Your body says one thing, your heart another, and your mind and beliefs may very well contradict your body and your heart. This lack of integrity creates inner conflict, lack of resolve and is often the root of disease.
When your body, mind, heart and soul are in harmony and there is agreement on all levels, you are in integrity. When your thoughts, words and deeds are in alignment that you can take effective action in your world.
Interpersonal Communications
Interpersonal communications is the “sharing” between individuals. As you know from experience, not everybody communicates the same. There are some people that you have a natural alignment with and affinity for, and others that are very difficult to communicate with.
If two individuals are in integrity within, or are at least aware of where they are not, and have the desire, intention and skill to communicate, then successful relationships can develop. Without interpersonal communications there can be no “relationship” of any kind. Without interpersonal communications skills, all modern communications technology leaves a void.
Remember, technology does not communicate without people. We’re not robots or machines. It’s the people behind the technology that communicates, or not. Technology can never replace the intrapersonal and interpersonal skills required for true communications.
Organizational Communications
Organizational communications is the “sharing” between individuals in the context of a group. As in intrapersonal and interpersonal communications, there are skills involved in organizational communications. An organization is defined as a collection of individuals organized around a particular function, business, purpose or goal. If the intrapersonal and interpersonal communications skills are well developed, then the organization can communicate pretty well.
Again like the technology, organizations do not communicate without people. An organization will only communicate as well as the individuals involved in it. The response ability lies firmly on the individuals. The group may set the agenda to some degree, but the individuals are the communicators for better or worse.
In organizations where communications is challenged, or the bureaucracy makes it’s difficult or impossible, the bottom line suffers. It costs an organization a lot to not communicate effectively. Oftentimes, organizations do treat people like robots or machines and overlook the intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of communications. In this situation, authoritarian command and control systems are often installed to regulate and limit true communications. These are not places where free people want to work and play.
Being an Effective Communicator
Being an effective communicator is essential to access people or information. You can have all the access in the world, but if we fail to communicate then access is blocked.
Not everybody can or wants to network or communicate. Many people and organizations in the old paradigm do not network or communicate effectively, nor do they want to. Instead, they build control systems to maintain power, separation of property, resources, and information. Become an effective communicator and then learn to network. You’ll be amazed at the results generated in your life.
Summary
In summary, the power and significance of communications networking is about changing the way we think and utilizing integrated communications technologies along with intrapersonal and interpersonal communications skills for human-to-human interaction. True communications is key. Remember, you cannot take the human being out of the link. Otherwise the machines will be doing all the talking and thinking for us.
Some aspects of communication include:
- Changing the way we think, thus how we perceive the world
- Integrating all technologies to support human-to-human communications and interaction
- Learning to think, perceive and communicate in whole systems, holodynamically, not piece by piece, one-dimensionally
- Mastering basic communications and technology skills
- Listening and healing cognitive dissonance
- Being in the present
- Mastering intrapersonal and interpersonal communications
- Organizing communications on every level of the system
- Being an effective communicator.
