By Faizan Haq

What do we do every day in business? We communicate; what has been done, needs to be done, and what is going on. Back and forth communication decides the outcome of business interactions and activities. Meetings give projects life, and the records of the meetings decide the quality of the project. When the records and minutes are not intact and meaningful action items are not attached to the meetings to measure progress, even the simplest project loses its integrity and quality. 

Principled communication requires a set of protocols put in place before the communication process begins. These protocols, no matter how primitive or ordinary, will save businesses from internal turmoil and external pressures. It is true for an organization of a basic family unit made of husband and wife to a multi-faceted organizational setup of a nation. If one wants to know the internal strength of an organization, they simply have to question the guidelines of principled communication. 

Let's take an obvious example of the American constitution. It sets up the rules for principled communication among and between all branches of the government, and a clear balance between governmental authority, freedom of expression, and the rights of the public. And a smart bunch of very learned legal scholars known as Supreme Court judges spend their time rendering opinions about those principled communication rules.

You have to decide in your place of work or business what are the rules of principled communication. When you probe this question, the strength of the organization, integrity of its leadership, and the quality of its business practices will be unveiled. It is not a bad idea for your own self if you jot down what are your rules of principled communication. For example, one of the rules can be to always be factual and not scoop down to lying or habitually misstating facts. You will lose your credibility very quickly. What are the golden rules of principled communication? We will answer this question in the next edition of Your Bliss Magazine.