A network of personal relationships is critical in order to apply the latter third of the law. These relationships often start with “small talk,” a kind of communication that may be 1.) intended to probe on whether there is the basis for a more mutually beneficial relationship. I suppose polite, social conversation (my bride calls it chit chat and claims I’m not very good at it) is another phrase that applies.

The Baruch Executives-on-Campus sponsors events that are intended to help students develop these skills.

The development of relationships leading to mutual trust is, in my view, critical to surviving, thriving, and making a difference in this information-based society.

How do Herb and Mikhail get so many people to do so many useful things for them? My hypothesis is that is because they have strong personal networks and continually work at keeping the networks strong. Key to that strength is trust. I’m willing to bet that “small talk” was at the start of these relationships.

March 4, 2002 was the date of the initial “small talk” between Herb and me. I like to think that “small talk” has yielded benefits to all.

So what does all this mean? Going from Writing Across the Curriculum to Communications Across the Curriculum is perhaps a more significant transition than many of us realized at the time. We may be, as in this conversation started by the notion of visualization, continuing to discover uncharted territory (“here be dragons”) which is intriguing, useful to explore, inspiring, and lead us to making a difference.

Thoughtful criticism is invited.

Jim

Please give me a bit of time to put together a little piece on this.

Jim