And, that's the problem, hanging out. I'm going to spend several columns exploring this phenomenon that plagues us all. It took me a while to realize that the problem is not meeting protocols or lack of leadership. They are there to be heard not to hear. I'd say the ability to communicate is the single most important criterion for project and work success.
Great work is a collaborative process that requires 'open, honest, and direct communication'.
Something that I see all too often is sadly lacking. A major problem is we're talking more and listening less. No wonder communications or the lack of it hampers our work effectiveness and even relationship happiness. Poor listening resulted in the 1977 runway collision at Tenerife Airport in the Canary Islands, resulting in 583 deaths. Poor listening results in the wrong coffee order, poor quality instructions, poor decision making, and even incorrect medical procedures.