I have
been had several requests on this story about communication and have decided to
include it on my site.
I have seen this story
used in many training's and talks to illustrate the importance of how important
clear communication is and how it can go so totally in the wrong direction.
A District
Training Chair told one of their assistants the following:
"Next
Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Halley's Comet will appear over this area. This is an
event which occurs only once every 75 years. Call the Unit Leaders and have
them assemble their units on a field and explain this phenomenon to them. If it
rains, then cancel the day's observation and have the Units meet in their
normal place to see a film about the comet."
Assistant to
Unit Leaders:
"By order
of the District Training Chair, next Thursday at 10:30 Halley's Comet will
appear over your field. If it rains then cancel the meeting on the field and
report to their normal meeting place with their Dens/Patrols where you will be
shown films, a phenomenal event which occurs only once every 75 years."
Unit Leaders
to Den Leaders/Patrol Leaders:
"By order
of the phenomenal District Training Chair, at 10:30 next Thursday Halley's
Comet will appear in the meeting room. In case of rain over the field, the
District Training Chair will give another order, something which occurs once
every 75 years."
Den
Leaders/Patrol Leaders to the boys:
"Next
Thursday at 10:30, the District Training Chair will appear in our meeting room with
Halley's Comet, something which occurs every 75 years. If it rains, the
District Training Chair will cancel the Comet and order us all out to our
phenomenal field."
Students to
parents:
"When it
rains next Thursday at 10:30 over the field, the phenomenal 75 year old
District Training Chair will cancel all Unit activities and appear before the
whole Unit in the meeting room accompanied by Bill Haley and the Comets."