From the Editor
Communication Breakdown -- It's Always the Same
By Mark Fausz
Aug 20, 2008 - 9:07:29 AM

Communication is the most important part of any relationship. I am stating the obvious by saying that a conversational exchange between husband and wife, life partners or girlfriend and boyfriend are essential to a lasting connection. But communication between manager and associates; clergy and congregation; administrators and the public; and elected officials and constituents is critical as well.

Misinformation spreads quicker than correct information. Gossip is so much more fun.
As a good friend of mine and local sage said recently, “People are right on the edge of blowing up at any point; it doesn’t take much to set them off.” A little gossip could do that.
The stress of everyday life: dealing with economic strain; raising a family; entering and exiting relationships and protecting one’s property and its value, puts many of us one chest pain away from a full blown coronary. The only thing that can really tame the savage beast within us is communication. It can and has stopped wars, created cease fires, resolved marital differences, and solved a plethora of problems from the beginning of humankind.

As one caveman grunted to another, “I’m not on your hunting grounds to steal your food; I’m only taking a shortcut to find my lost cavechild.” It’s a good thing these cavemen spoke the same language.

Speaking the same language is helpful. In the office, we refer to the Chesterfield school administration’s description of programs and initiative as “eduspeak.” Just what is “Pyramids of Intervention” or “Feedback Spiral,” anyway?

Our Board of Supervisors is learning the value of communication the hard way. By the way of a lawsuit. Whether done properly or not, additions to the Upper Swift Creek plan left the board vulnerable. If the additions or changes were made known far enough in advance, there could have been public discussion. But on the other hand, in that case, the plan that surrounds the reservoir near Midlothian had probably been talked to death already.

As we learned last week, miscommunication caused a problem just as a lack of communication has done elsewhere. If some residents along Enon Church Rd. had been made aware of the exact intent of those proposing a pathway along their road, they may have embraced the idea. Instead, a report done by someone who is not familiar with the area stirred things up. Stirring the pot further was my reporting of the community’s objections, which did not set well with some Enon residents.

When bad information is communicated, it can be more difficult to undo than the truth.
Last week, the Richmond Times Dispatch was in Chester to report on the Chester Community Association’s project Chester Connections. The chesterconnections.org website has attracted regional attention after the group put the site online as a tool to inform those who will be affected by roads leading to Branner Station as to the progress of the road design, ultimate location, and impact on the community.

When citizens are left wondering, their fear grows. They think, “It’s a done deal; the fix is in and we’re screwed,” when in fact it could be entirely different.

Initially at a “stakeholders” meeting held by the developer, those in attendance were given a timetable. Critical dates or benchmarks on that timetable have come and gone. What was a local issue to be discussed by those primarily affected will now be highlighted throughout the region, and who gets a black eye?

The Village News has not reported on the progress because there has been no public progress. Is it true that the “fix is in,” that the “deal is done,” or is everything going to turn out in favor of the community?

When a somewhat local issue is left unresolved long enough for the a regional daily publication that reports mostly bad news sniffs out the story, something is wrong.

Whose responsibility is it to communicate to the citizens affected by such a massive project as seven miles of four-lane highway that weaves in and out of neighborhoods across the Bermuda District?

Where is the dialogue that was promised? Will the dialogue begin when it’s too late to make any changes? Too late to compromise? Too late to get the absolute best for us?

When one looks at all the bad press, all the snickering about Chesterfield, a good deal of it could have been diffused with good communication.

It is not the responsibility of citizen to hound a public official for information. It is the absolute responsibility of those we have “hired” through our vote to communicate with us.

mfausz@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421

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