In the upcoming months, look for an article on each of the seven bones of the FINESSE fishbone diagram. I’ll provide three insights and a three-minute video on each bone. You’ll see the cause-and-effect relationships and why communication is a system just like any other type of physical system. The series is a good introduction for those unfamiliar with FINESSE and a refresher for those who are.
Systems Thinking
A system is a collection of interrelated or interacting parts, each of which can affect the behavior or outcomes of the whole. One defining property of a system is that it provides a function that none of the parts can accomplish by themselves. The corollary is that a system is not the sum of the parts but the product of their interactions.
A communication system is the same as any other system. The good news for technical professionals is that you do not have the best-looking, most eloquent, or smartest person in the room to be an effective communicator. You just need to trust the system.
The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram
FINESSE is a fishbone (cause and effect) diagram, a mnemonic, and a mental model. FINESSE stands for Frame, Illustrate, Noise Reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics. As applied to effective communication, systems thinking is the cornerstone of FINESSE.
The FINESSE fishbone diagram is peer-reviewed and battle-tested. Most importantly, it works.
Communicating with FINESSE
Communicating with FINESSE is a not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. We provide insights, publications, free webinars, and training. The community has one part-time person provided by JD Solomon Inc. Otherwise, we depend on inspired volunteers.
The Upcoming Series on the Bones of FINESSE
Look for an article on each bone every other week. There will be an eighth piece that summarizes the series. In the meantime, don’t forget to join the community for free. Are you Communicating with FINESSE?
JD Solomon is the founder of JD Solomon, Inc., the creator of the FINESSE fishbone diagram, and the co-creator of the Solomon-Oldach Asset Prioritization (SOAP) Method. He is the author of Communicating Reliability, Risk & Resiliency to Decision Makers: How to Get Your Boss’s Boss to Understand and Facilitating with FINESSE: A Guide to Successful Business Solutions.
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