Communication FUNdamentals

May. 6, 2008

The Jury is Out on Too Much Communication: Part 2

Last week I told you what happens when you give out too much communication.  This week I will share with you what happens when you don't!  The next time I received a Jury Duty summons, I decided to take the advice of the person who excused me before.  I filled out my little postcard just saying that I had to care for a young child.  Nothing confusing there, I thought.  Nothing was listed that would possibly be construed as contradictory.  I thought I would be excused right away.  I mean, after all, this was what I was directed to do should I be called for Jury Duty again!  Right?  Not so fast Kowalski!  Yup!  I received a denial in the mail saying ..."Additional Information Required".   I wasn't able to call that day because they are only available until 4pm so I had to wait until Monday.  I tried calling on Monday morning but was unable to get through.  I called about three or four times until I finally got through that afternoon.  I explained the situation and was told that they needed additional information.  What additional information could they possibly need?  Jury Dept: How old is the child? Me: 8. Jury Dept: What do you do when you go to work? Me: I don't go to work.  I work in my home. Jury Dept: What do you do when he goes to school? Me: I homeschool him. Jury Dept:  So he is with you all day? Me: Yes. Isn't that what caring for a young child means? Jury Dept: Yes.  But some people go to work and leave their kids at school or with a baby sitter. Me:  That wouldn't be considered "caring for a young child" then, would it?  Why would that be an excuse? Jury Dept:  It wouldn't.  That's why we needed additional information.  Me:  What should I put on the card to be excused the next time I am called?  I can't serve for the next 10 years or so.  My son will be homeschooled another 10 years and I have a business I can't leave.  Jury Dept: You should put that you care for a young child, that you homeschool and that you have a business.  Ok.  Here's my take on the whole Jury Duty thing.  They NEVER excuse you without "Additional Information Required".  It doesn't matter what you put down on that little postcard.  Your relatives could put down that you died and they would send you that same little card stamped "Additional Information Required"!  However, it did bring up an important communication lesson whether or not it solved it.  lol  We should always consider our communication to make sure there is not too much information that would confuse our reader or too little information that would make "Additional Information Required".  Until Next Week... From JoJo's Purple Crayon...   For more Communication tips delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our weekly eNewsletter: Communication Tip of the Week!   Did you vote yet?  Name Our Convention Day Contest!

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