Comments on: The Importance of being Articulate http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/ Basab Pradhan's weblog about business and life in a 'flat world'. 6 AM Pacific is the best time for a global conference call. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:46:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rohit http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-16215 Rohit Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:59:03 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-16215 Hi, That was good analysis between India and US media so I like that. So i am giving one link where i found nice posting about Indian media. <a href="http://toostep.com/idea/what-should-be-the-role-of-media-in-today-s-world-in-a-count" target="_blank">http://toostep.com/idea/what-should-be-the-role-o...</a> Hi,
That was good analysis between India and US media so I like that.
So i am giving one link where i found nice posting about Indian media.
http://toostep.com/idea/what-should-be-the-role-o...

]]> By: Vivek http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-8423 Vivek Sun, 28 Oct 2007 07:18:41 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-8423 The starting analogy between CNBC india and US was good. Indian media tends to create a hype for every single news these days. But was this analogy relevant to the topic "being articulate"? The starting analogy between CNBC india and US was good. Indian media tends to create a hype for every single news these days. But was this analogy relevant to the topic “being articulate”?

]]> By: Kelpie http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-7511 Kelpie Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:45:51 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-7511 Hi! There have been various comments on the insight Basab provided. . . and much of it is elegant educated analysis. . .not surprising. I read through many, and thought about it. There had to be a more elemental and basic trigger or cause, which is simple and not tax our intellect. After much thought and less words I realised this. It is not to do with Education, English, Experience, Etc. it is simply that Americans love to talk! Period! And they are good at it and can talk till the show is over! Nothing derogratory in my comment and it is not faulting anyone, but just an observation. I have found all sorts of people, not just CEOs, in all places talk, and talk, and talk. . . about anything and everything! Staying on the "Articulate" part of the orginal blog, funny that only US business leaders were mentioned and compared to Indian ones, what happened inbetween? European busniess leaders too dont "Articulate" that much, in fact they rarely do (comparitively), what about Japanese business leaders. . .? Moving to the content versus context part, even here the average American is so good at giving a context to the weather, her cat's bad mood, and Sunday's game. . .little wonder the business leaders do it that much better! I still remember one of my first visits to Haight Ashbury, I saw this guy with a placard, "A dollar for weed?" :) Hi! There have been various comments on the insight Basab provided. . . and much of it is elegant educated analysis. . .not surprising. I read through many, and thought about it. There had to be a more elemental and basic trigger or cause, which is simple and not tax our intellect. After much thought and less words I realised this. It is not to do with Education, English, Experience, Etc. it is simply that Americans love to talk! Period! And they are good at it and can talk till the show is over! Nothing derogratory in my comment and it is not faulting anyone, but just an observation. I have found all sorts of people, not just CEOs, in all places talk, and talk, and talk. . . about anything and everything! Staying on the “Articulate” part of the orginal blog, funny that only US business leaders were mentioned and compared to Indian ones, what happened inbetween? European busniess leaders too dont “Articulate” that much, in fact they rarely do (comparitively), what about Japanese business leaders. . .? Moving to the content versus context part, even here the average American is so good at giving a context to the weather, her cat’s bad mood, and Sunday’s game. . .little wonder the business leaders do it that much better!
I still remember one of my first visits to Haight Ashbury, I saw this guy with a placard, “A dollar for weed?” :)

]]> By: Crepuscule with Nellie « La Vie Quotidienne http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-7507 Crepuscule with Nellie « La Vie Quotidienne Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:17:59 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-7507 [...] Crepuscule with Nellie Filed under: general — Shefaly @ 7:17 am An earlier post on articulation got much dialogue going both here and on Basab Pradhan’s original post, which led to mine. Articulation is a complex construct, encompassing clarity of thought, grammatical skeletons underpinning the use of wholly suitable words to explain something at the opportune moment. [...] [...] Crepuscule with Nellie Filed under: general — Shefaly @ 7:17 am An earlier post on articulation got much dialogue going both here and on Basab Pradhan’s original post, which led to mine. Articulation is a complex construct, encompassing clarity of thought, grammatical skeletons underpinning the use of wholly suitable words to explain something at the opportune moment. [...]

]]> By: Shefaly http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-7311 Shefaly Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:13:28 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-7311 @ Vijay Menon: The Economist, a weekly publication, has the benefit of an editorial board for every line it prints. Human beings speaking in real-time, live on television, alas, do not have such privilege. Comparing the two is, at best, an informal fallacy. @ Vijay Menon: The Economist, a weekly publication, has the benefit of an editorial board for every line it prints. Human beings speaking in real-time, live on television, alas, do not have such privilege. Comparing the two is, at best, an informal fallacy.

]]> By: Saumitri http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-7280 Saumitri Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:37:55 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-7280 There is one other aspect we are missing out here - experience. True understanding comes from experience and to be really articulate, one needs to have experience - both of success as well as FAILURE. Majority of us, in India (except a few risk taking communities) are risk-averse and if you analyse our careers, its a clean slate with no failures to to "hide" but only successes to "show". Our understanding therefore is one-sided and hence we are unable to place it in "context". Therefore, coupled with pressure to be "smart"(superficial as Monideepa says) and lack of "humilty"(from Rutherford mentioned by Shefaly) our understanding lacks the grasp of fundamentals. Hence, we articulate in "glib"-talk to cover up for our lack of experience. There is one other aspect we are missing out here – experience.

True understanding comes from experience and to be really articulate, one needs to have experience – both of success as well as FAILURE.

Majority of us, in India (except a few risk taking communities) are risk-averse and if you analyse our careers, its a clean slate with no failures to to “hide” but only successes to “show”. Our understanding therefore is one-sided and hence we are unable to place it in “context”.

Therefore, coupled with pressure to be “smart”(superficial as Monideepa says) and lack of “humilty”(from Rutherford mentioned by Shefaly) our understanding lacks the grasp of fundamentals.

Hence, we articulate in “glib”-talk to cover up for our lack of experience.

]]> By: Vijay Menon http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-7263 Vijay Menon Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:38:52 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-7263 To me, the 'Economist' is one of the best examples of jargon free business articulation. Listen to most business leaders and business channels such as CNBC on most topics and then go read about it in the Economist. The difference in the latter's ability to tell the story lucidly is refreshing. I hate to say this in this dumbed down world of business communication, but great articulation calls for not just domain knowledge but also a mastery of language. So while 'Globish', the world English that we are striving for may be a good ideal for basic communication, people who can articulate with limpid clarity will always be highly prized. And the sooner we realize that and raise the general level of language skills in corporations, the quicker we can elevate our conversations from the pidgin that seems to overtake a lot of intra and international business conversations. To me, the ‘Economist’ is one of the best examples of jargon free business articulation. Listen to most business leaders and business channels such as CNBC on most topics and then go read about it in the Economist. The difference in the latter’s ability to tell the story lucidly is refreshing. I hate to say this in this dumbed down world of business communication, but great articulation calls for not just domain knowledge but also a mastery of language. So while ‘Globish’, the world English that we are striving for may be a good ideal for basic communication, people who can articulate with limpid clarity will always be highly prized. And the sooner we realize that and raise the general level of language skills in corporations, the quicker we can elevate our conversations from the pidgin that seems to overtake a lot of intra and international business conversations.

]]> By: Atul http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-7257 Atul Fri, 17 Aug 2007 02:49:40 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-7257 Mr. Pradhan, Interesting thoughts. Our research head also has a similar view. In fact , he actively advocates not watching CNBC, and its hindi avatar , which moves from the 'technical' to the 'emotional' with amazing regularity. Very avoidable. Atul BTW : I stumbled across this while searching for news about your company. Mr. Pradhan,

Interesting thoughts. Our research head also has a similar view. In fact , he actively advocates not watching CNBC, and its hindi avatar , which moves from the ‘technical’ to the ‘emotional’ with amazing regularity. Very avoidable.

Atul

BTW : I stumbled across this while searching for news about your company.

]]> By: monideepa http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-7228 monideepa Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:45:22 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-7228 Fascinating post. The difference in approaches between the US and Indian media perhaps reflects our innate differences in attitudes. We in India tend to take 'smartness', meaning superficial slickness, for more than its face value. Having done much of my schooling in the US, I noticed that we were encouraged to ask questions and probe further, even as yong children. When I returned home and enrolled in an Indian school, we were encouraged to answer quickly and draw the teacher's attention. The answer itself was expected to be a repeat of textbook material. Language is not an insurmountable barrier to articulation. When there is clarity of thought, it will shine through despite linguistic handicaps. Conversely, mere verbal eloquence will not completely gloss over lack of innate substance. IMHO CNBC treats the Indian stock markets right. The markets here have a mind and life of their own. Illogical, whimsical, springing surprises with inadequate substantial reasons, they are like living entities. Fascinating post. The difference in approaches between the US and Indian media perhaps reflects our innate differences in attitudes. We in India tend to take ’smartness’, meaning superficial slickness, for more than its face value. Having done much of my schooling in the US, I noticed that we were encouraged to ask questions and probe further, even as yong children. When I returned home and enrolled in an Indian school, we were encouraged to answer quickly and draw the teacher’s attention. The answer itself was expected to be a repeat of textbook material.

Language is not an insurmountable barrier to articulation. When there is clarity of thought, it will shine through despite linguistic handicaps. Conversely, mere verbal eloquence will not completely gloss over lack of innate substance.

IMHO CNBC treats the Indian stock markets right. The markets here have a mind and life of their own. Illogical, whimsical, springing surprises with inadequate substantial reasons, they are like living entities.

]]> By: Anuradha http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/comment-page-1/#comment-7201 Anuradha Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:57:21 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/2007/08/05/the-importance-of-being-articulate/#comment-7201 One more thing: If you have to have conversation with Shabana Azmi, without a script in her hand, you may not find her articulate and that at least not in Hindi / Urdu. One more thing: If you have to have conversation with Shabana Azmi, without a script in her hand, you may not find her articulate and that at least not in Hindi / Urdu.

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