"Acronymic" Beauty

The IRA…

What does it stand for? Is it an Individual Retirement Account? The equivalent of an IPA with automatic weapons—you know, the India Red Ale? Which lead me to: maybe it’s just the Irish Republican Army?

Last night I was out with some new (and some not-so-new) friends when I found an IRA (of the beer variety) on the menu. Spurred by curiosity, and one of our beer drinkers spouting the ‘automatic weapons’ remark (thank you Sean), I started reflecting on the use of acronyms…

Hmmm... what will it be today, an IPA, or an IPL?

Uses of acronyms are everywhere, and they affect us constantly (whether we realize it or not). Whether it’s the sudden realization that you’re interviewing with the big head-honcho (CEO), or you’re just really angry at someone in traffic, but too tired to speak all the words (S-O-B), they are all around us, and they can make our life easier, making us sound more ‘sophisticated’… or does it just complicate things too much?

Two areas in which I use them: my beer interests, and my work in “IT.” The latter primarily being Microsoft. So whether it’s IPAs or CDAs, BDNs or VPNs, I just can’t get away from acronyms!

I know at MS, it seems like the more you use them, the more people take you seriously… there’s this subtle respect and intelligence that seems to be connected to their use while working with the big software giant, and with so many IT processes to consider, using them is so unavoidable… otherwise, with all those acronyms spoken in full, a 5-minute conversation could easily be 20!

By no means is this post intended as a rant. Call it humorous reflection, as I totally ‘get’ the validity of their use; or just call this some “acronym awareness,” the big AA. Or is that acronym already taken?

Where the use often gets messy for me:

1. When their meaning gets lost in conversation, and we assume we all understand (such as when someone in conversation uses multiple acronyms in the same sentence, and our heads get so befuddled just trying to ‘track’ and follow the speaker of those aforementioned cursed letters as we struggle to parse their code) or…
2. They have multiple meanings that depend on the context of their use (like the IRA). Then it just gets silly!

So how do they affect our experience? Do they make situations more memorable? 

Sometimes we even create a process, service or product based on how it will sound as an acronym. That could be just to sound ‘cool,’ or better yet, to get the letter to ‘stick,’ and actually be memorable as a process.

When the letters ‘stick,’ does it actually help? It seems to for me. Training processes such as “ADDIE” will never be forgotten now!

I think this week I don’t have a Major Message (aka “MM”), other than to try to pay attention to their use, and the intention behind them. It’s interesting to consider how much we rely on language and the use of letters to communicate. Do acronyms deepen the value of your communication? When do they help, and when do they hinder? Do you need to carry your abbreviation list wherever you go? Do you have to record conversations to be able to reply and parse their code? Maybe you know certain letter combinations so well that it’s not a problem. For many, I’m sure that’s the case.

What works best for you, so that the language used actually benefits your communication, making it more meaningful? 

Ok, that’s all I’ve got for now. I know I’m not the only one out there that gets lost, confused, frustrated or pleasantly amused when engaged in conversations of this nature. Ultimately, maybe the big ‘value-add’ for this particular post may involve the use of a little SEO, so the world will be able to locate all the “infinite value” in my writing this week. 

;)

See you soon-

m

P.S. Some parsed code, for those who may need it…
SEO = Search Engine Optimization.

TechReady12: Storytelling

Last Thursday was our presentation (we, the three book authors) at the annual Microsoft Conference “TechReady12.” It went fabulously, with great reviews, attendance and feedback (the seminars are always graded by the attendees).

One of the things that struck me the most, and in which I am most encouraged by, was a predominant topic which is not always common to tech-based business: “soft skills.” In this technological age, and in this techie city, it is truly refreshing to talk to so many people that are so passionate about forming and telling stories as a valuable commodity, when working on influencing and facilitating discussions and decisions for projects IT-based projects. Let’s be clear, the book is not solely meant for IT audiences, but it is an one of several target audiences.

Telling stories are so valuable in a day and age of disconnects, and work that can often be less-than memorable in nature. Stories bring intention and connection to our work, and a sense of genuine regard for bringing a “personal face” to the work we do. When we frame our persuasive presentations in the context of something real and tangible, it can not only provide a certain entertainment value, but as Martin mentioned in the presentation, audiences can relate more personally, and it can become the “story that sticks” in your mind, having a greater tendency to inspire decision-makers and stake-holders to take more immediate action, because they feel a greater sense of “urgency.”

In our social interactions—whether we realize it or not—telling stories are what we do as human beings to connect and create memories that allow us to share, where we can feel like we’re a part of something much bigger.

The presentation on Thursday reminded me that any perceived “differences” amongst a predominantly IT-based crowd are somewhat superficial when we have the opportunity to experience living “in the moment” with others, sharing some context of our lives, and what we are passionate about.

Sharing our stories, whether for business or for living, creates understanding that blurs the boundaries of any perceived differences, or at least—it can bring us one step closer to realizing that we are all part of something much bigger than our everyday sensory experience tells us—we’re part of a bigger community that is not solely about gadgets and data (yours truly can be a true digit head sometimes). It’s an important reminder of how relevant the human side of doing “good-business” can be, and that it’s actually all around us—if we choose to grasp the reins and take the chance.

I am excited and encouraged to continue work on the book.

:)

m