The Iraqi journalist who flung his shoe at George Bush has just been sentenced to 3 years in jail.  Al-Zeidi, the accused, said that this was a “natural response to the occupation.”  I find it totally astonishing that with world in the state it is that Bush even allowed charges to be pressed.  I am not necessarily advocating hurling missiles as a means of communication but why on earth make a martyr of someone who is voicing such an easily understandable and well supported view.  There are people all over the world who think the occupation of Iraq is misguided, few have found such a clear way of ‘voicing’ their thoughts.  As a democratic leader, Bush should support what was, in fact, a perfectly valid expression of total frustration.  No one was hurt. 

It is interesting the various forms communication can take, sometimes it requires no words at all to make our feelings felt.  In eastern cultures, many consider the bottom of the shoe as filthy and it is a huge sign of disrespect to show it to someone.  The Iraqi populace threw their shoes at the toppled statue of Saddam Hussein during the liberation.

We need to be aware of these non-verbal communications and their power.  I suspect this one will leave a bitter legacy.  You however, can use it in a very positive way.  Read and be aware of the non-verbal communication that is all around you; be careful and consider what you actions communicate.  The way you lay out your office, the rules you operate by, how you manage you time all are very potent forms of communication.

 “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.”   Peter F. Drucker

“But behaviour in the human being is sometimes a defence, a way of concealing motives and thoughts, as language can be a way of hiding your thoughts and preventing communication.” Abraham Maslow

Resources:

• Guardian article
• The Islamic view and video