Using metaphor: what do you think?
Apoorva Mathur
Leadership | Talent | Culture | People Strategy & Performance | Consumer NL Consulting Leader | Korn Ferry
What do we think of using metaphor in official communication - especially during times of significant change?
Prof Gareth Morgan, in his book "Images of Organization", highlights the significance of metaphor. ("The use of metaphor implies a way of thinking and a way of seeing that pervade how we understand our world generally.")
He does add, though, that "metaphor always creates distortions". ("Metaphor uses evocative images to create what may be described as 'constructive falsehoods', which, if taken literally, or to an extreme, become absurd.")
We have seen some of these elements play out in the past few weeks. Some senior politicians have used the metaphor of war in our efforts against the coronavirus. Some people found this metaphor apt and engaging because to them it reflected the need for a level of alertness and preparedness. Others (including some who had fought in actual wars) pointed at the dissimilarities and cautioned us from using the metaphor of war.
What about using metaphor at the workplace? When to use figurative imagery to evoke emotions, and when to use plain and direct language to ensure clarity?
Prof Erin Meyer, in her book "The Culture Map", does not use the word 'metaphor' to directly address this issue, but she does serve some guidance. She says that when there are people from different cultures working together, simple and precise communication is more effective than layered or nuanced communication. ("Multicultural teams need low-context processes.")
I discovered in my own research (as part of my Masters programme) that people who classified communication in their organisation as 'low-context' (simple and precise) thought that the reorganisation process in their organisation was more fair as against people who classified communication in their organisation as 'high-context' (layered and nuanced).
Do you rely on metaphor in your communication? When do you find it effective? Please do share!
Teamcoach | Trainer | Facilitator | Organization Relationship Systems Coach ORSCC | Team development | Workshops | Lumina Practitioner
4 年Love these threads, thanks for sharing your thougts.
Leadership Advisory | Organisational Consulting | Executive Coaching | Author & Keynote Speaker | MC
4 年Ah Apoorva Mathur isn’t all language metaphor? We’ve been teaching this recently on #newrulesoftime and how we talk about time affects how we act and think. My bible is by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson.
B2B Digital Marketer I Complex Sales I Journalist I Volunteer
4 年Nitish, interesting and helpful perspective. Would be curious to hear what my friend, Prof. Niraj Dawar and our company CEO Tony Uphoff think about use of metaphor in various types of communication. Internal brand culture building vs. communication of brand distinctives externally etc.
CXO Advisory | Strategy-Branding-Behaviour Design | New Ventures & SMEs
4 年Hey, thanks for sharing! I too find Semiotics interesting - Saussure and Umberto Eco. As regards usage of figurative communication or non-linear communication (like metaphors), one way to look at it could perhaps be a two-by-two grid. On the X-axis: figurative communication / linear communication. And on the Y-axis: internal stakeholders/external stakeholders. This could help create a strategy for all communication contexts. For example: Figurative communication + Internal stakeholders = Brand communication (brand culture building) Figurative communication + External stakeholders = Brand communication (building brand distinctiveness) Linear communication + Internal stakeholders = Primarily process related communication Linear communication + External stakeholders = Process, contractual communications
Executive Director at Contango | Ex-Microsoft | Ex-McKinsey | Board Member | #1 Bestselling Author
4 年Interesting idea Apoorva Mathur. I am a huge fan of Erin Meyer's book (it is one of the books I recommend when people move into my team from other countries) - however, I have often wondered if the book had been written by someone from a high context culture, would the advise have been the same? Living here in NL, it makes sense for us to follow it, but I do believe high context and nuanced conversation has a place - sometimes it helps us to absorb and stomach truths which are hard to convey and receive with straightforward talk. As they say (and I am brutally paraphrasing someone famous here) - fiction lies so that we may see the truth, while factual truth often distorts us from seeing reality. Metaphors are a little bit like that too. Ultimately, I think it has a place in communication - but you need to know when to use it, use the right metaphor and have a good understanding of your audience ability to grasp it. Life would be boring with no metaphors :)