It’s a little before midnight, I’m feeling a forced calm, I'm aching for a peaceful thought to cascade through me. I am at the office in mid-town Omaha, experiencing the ‘entrepreneur’s curse’ – having to monitor the project all the time.

I am reflecting on the verbal, non-verbal and paralinguistic styles of communication people use, particularly the ones YAMBUKA stakeholders have used in the interpersonal business relationships I have created this year.

A business associate told me (minutes before a deadline)that he would not complete a verbally agreed upon project unless I awarded a production tender to his brother-in-laws company.

I asked incredulously, "...is this how you do business?'

He chuckled and said, " I'm trying to stay recession free."

He went on to justify his calculated play; a monotone monologue lacking sincerity and truth. Shock quietens me, however, it’s a known cliché that ‘what people do not say is more important than what they do say’.


'Strong Arming' in business is a sign of desperation and a symptom of a poor business model.Rather, everybody responds positively when shown respect. Sound confidence and excellent communication skills, in my humble opinion, are better signs of a clear vision. Vision is an element of wealth. Wealth is the goal.


What boggles my mind is not why (business) people lie, rather, why we cannot tell the truth. Why are we evasive, deceptive and most importantly, ommissive? Why is it challenging to communicate the truth?


The communication process is well known, a function of content, structure and delivery. Whilst working on improving my communication competences this year, I have come to understand how the communication process goes beyond accents, diction, grammar (verb: doing word, noun: name of things, places, pro-nouns: personal versus possessive, adjectives etc) style and tone. Communication is truth. Truth is simplicity, purity and transparency wrapped in a delicious cocoon of value adding sweetness. It is beautiful, in business it is valuable and that’s why I feel it is difficult for many people to communicate truth.

The Power Facade In Business Meetings: Instead of interpersonal business interactions being an easy win-win situation, were both parties express their needs, highlighting the opportunities available and constructing a simple solution, I have noticed how fictional power plays (as seen on the silver screen) seem to be how some people believe real business is handled.

The truth is out there.

Upwards. Onwards. Always.

Farai