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Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University, explains the logic behind using innuendos instead of speaking straight.

Relationship types (dominance, communality and reciprocity) are reflected in language. If the relationship type  is not clearly  defined, innuendos are one way to avoid conflict. Moreover, the content of innuendos only create individual knowledge instead of mutual knowledge and that´s why their content (if inappropriate) can be “taken back”.

The video also explains, why for example calling the boss by his or her first name might cause akwardness among employees  instead of comfort. It also explains why mutual knowledge is so important in change-processes. This leads us back to the key role that access to information has in a democracy.

For more videos from the RSA go to RSA Comment.

 

 

 

Effects of the media crisis on corporate communications The media landscape is currently changing rapidly, and it is imperative that corporate communications keep pace with this changing landscape if they want to continue to reach opinion-makers. For evidence indicates that many daily newspapers will not be able to continue to exist in their current form, online magazines are set to expand their readership, and special interest magazines to take on new formats. The article below provides an overview of the main changes taking place and analyses the consequences of these changes for corporate communications. Read the rest of this entry »

In a world in which information is like air, what happens to power?

New technologies and a closely related culture of collaboration present radical new models of social organisation – as well as media. Though this film is in large parts about the internet changing society, it also discusses the impacts on corporate behaviour and corporate communications.