# Determining the Organizational Message By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-06-08 Meaning matters. Much of what gets said is largely devoid of meaning. Those types of statements are simply ways to connect with others. One can discuss current events, sports, or the weather. There isn’t much content involved in those conversations. The point isn’t to share meaning. Another type of content is highly ambiguous. These statements are potentially significant, but much of the discussion is muddled. It might be unclear how to make the point clear. For each pivotal word, one could ask what does _that_ mean. Organizations operate in this space. Determining the organizational message is an important function. When an organization crafts a message, it benefits from considering how a given statement can be interpreted. As a starting point, one should determine the multiple definitions associated with a given term and the degree of potential meanings under the various definitions. More deeply, the organization should attempt to determine the degree of credibility they have internally and externally. Understanding if potential audiences believe the organization is useful for assessing the challenge associated with establishing a shared acceptance of the desired meaning. Of course, that assumes that the organization has a desired meaning. Perhaps the organization simply wants to say things that sound good. In that case, determining the organizational message is easy. Influencing how people consume it, however, is nearly impossible. #### Related Items [[Meaning]] [[Communication]] [[Organization]] [[Understanding]] [[Purpose]]