An evening with Mallika Bajaj

Introduction

On April 26, we had the privilege of attending a session by Ms. Mallika Bajaj, a digital communications specialist. Ms. Bajaj elaborated on the complexities of digital communication, emphasizing that it is not merely about transferring traditional content onto digital platforms. Experience in traditional communication does not necessarily translate to proficiency in digital communication. To leverage digital media effectively, it is crucial to be well-informed, clear about objectives, and maintain control over our minds to prevent manipulation by the constant influx of information.

About Ms Mallika Bajaj

With over 15 years of experience in leading digital transformation across educational and health sectors, Ms Mallika Bajaj is a Digital Communications specialist with a proven track record of enhancing e-learning platforms, driving strategic communications for global organizations, and building digital partnerships across 30 countries.

Face to face vs Digital Communication

Human beings are wired to communicate. But there is a big difference between face to face and digital communication. We must be far more self-aware in digital communication. Communicating digitally is not the same as digital communication. It is a nuanced science.

In person communication is all about sharing and receiving thoughts and emotions. It develops connections and helps build safe spaces. When we communicate in person, we can feel the breathing patterns, pupil dilation, etc. It is about creating a human experience. Unfortunately, in the case of digital communication, we have ended up isolating people instead of building safe spaces. To make digital communication more effective, we must revisit the basics.

The loop of understanding

Communication is all about creating safe spaces through understanding each other. When we understand each other, we will tolerate each other, and the world will be easier to navigate.

The loop of understanding is a communication technique used to promote such understanding. It is particularly helpful in situations where there's a potential for disagreement or conflict. It works well if we do the following:

• We start by asking open ended questions to get the other person to explain their point of view.
• We pay close attention to what they're saying, both verbally and nonverbally.
• We summarize what we have heard them say. This shows we are paying attention and helps clarify any misunderstandings.
• We check if our understanding is accurate. This allows the other person to correct any misinterpretations.

The loop continues until we feel confident that we have been heard and understood. The loop of understanding reduces misunderstandings, builds empathy, improves communication, and helps build stronger relationships. When deployed digitally, it can turn into offers and actionable engagements that build self-motivated communities through capacity building and engagement.

The essence of great conversations

To be effective in digital communication, we must appreciate the meaning of a great conversation. A great conversation is engaging, stimulating, and enjoyable for everyone involved. The conversation flows back and forth, with both participants contributing equally. Nobody dominates or monopolizes the conversation.

Great conversations go beyond superficial small talk. There's a genuine exchange of ideas, experiences, or perspectives. Disagreements can occur, but respectful language and an openness to different viewpoints are crucial. Great conversations leave us feeling stimulated and inspired, not drained or bored. Unfortunately, on the social media, disrespectful and toxic comments are quite common. Accepting this reality is our first mindful move to take back control. By consciously #CreatingKinderContent ©, we can ensure content that is verified, factually correct, and delivered with respectful language, allowing room for common errors to be learning opportunities.

Logical and emotional conversations

Different parts of the brain play a dominant role in logical and emotional conversations, although there's always some overlap.

Logical Conversations:

Frontal lobe: This region takes center stage in logical conversations. The frontal lobe helps structure our thoughts and arguments before speaking. It allows us to weigh evidence, identify logical fallacies, and form sound conclusions.

Working memory: This temporary storage system holds key information during conversation, allowing us to follow complex topics.

Broca's area: Broca's area translates logical thoughts into well-formed sentences, ensuring clear and concise communication.

Emotional Conversations:

Limbic system: This area, deep within the brain, is the seat of emotions. The amygdala, a part of the limbic system, rapidly interprets emotional cues in speech, facial expressions, and tone. It triggers physiological responses like increased heart rate or sweating. The limbic system influences our emotional state during the conversation.

Frontal lobe: While crucial for logic, the frontal lobe also plays a role in managing emotions. It helps regulate our emotional responses and choose appropriate words during a heated conversation.

Prefrontal cortex (PFC): The PFC occupies the frontmost section of the frontal lobe. It is the most recently evolved part of the human brain and is considered the seat of executive functions. The PFC acts as a temporary storage for information, allowing us to hold and manipulate data while performing complex tasks. The PFC helps us focus on relevant information and filter out distractions. The PFC suppresses impulsive behaviours and enables us to prioritize tasks and make deliberate choices. The PFC is crucial for setting goals, formulating plans, and anticipating future consequences. The PFC is involved in understanding social cues, navigating social interactions, and developing empathy for others.

The Interplay of logic and emotions

The frontal lobe can use reason to calm down the amygdala's emotional response. For instance, during a disagreement, logic might help us recognize the other person's perspective, reducing anger.

Emotions can cloud logical thinking. The amygdala's activation can make it difficult to focus on facts and lead to impulsive responses in conversations.

The brain is highly interconnected. Even in a logical conversation, emotional centers are subtly active, and vice versa. This interplay allows for nuanced communication that considers both logic and feelings.

Note

The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in emotion, reward, motivation, threat detection, and fear.

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is involved in the cognitive process of decision making.

The basal ganglia are involved in learning new habits and routines, such as riding a bike or playing a musical instrument. The basal ganglia help us to learn what is pleasurable and motivates us to repeat those behaviours.

The hippocampus is crucial for forming and consolidating new memories into long-term storage. The hippocampus helps us to form mental maps of our surroundings and navigate from place to place. The hippocampus allows us to recall the details of a particular experience, such as a college event.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the brain to adapt, reorganize, and form new connections throughout life. It is essentially how our brain learns and modifies itself based on experiences. With regular exercise (learning new things, engaging activities), the brain strengthens existing neural pathways and even builds new ones.

Digital tools can provide access to a vast amount of information and interactive learning platforms. This constant stimulation can promote neuroplasticity by encouraging the brain to form new connections as we learn.

Engaging games and apps can challenge our cognitive abilities in new ways, potentially leading to increased neural connections and sharper cognitive skills. Social media and online communication can help us stay connected with loved ones. This can have positive effects on mental well-being.

But the constant barrage of information and rapid switching between tasks in the digital world can overload the brain and hinder its ability to focus and process information deeply. This may lead to weaker, less permanent connections.

Heavy digital media use, especially with frequent multitasking, might lead to a shortened attention span. This could impact neuroplasticity by making it harder for the brain to solidify new learning.

Face-to-face communication is rich with nonverbal cues that our brains are wired to interpret, potentially leading to a more robust neuroplastic response. Over-reliance on digital communication might come at the expense of face-to-face interaction.

Conversation to dialogue to offer

Digital communication can evolve through stages like face-to-face interactions. But there are some key differences due to the lack of nonverbal cues and the asynchronous nature of the exchange.

The initial exchange gets the digital interaction going. It could be a text message, a post on social media, or an initial email. A clear and engaging opening message is important to pique the recipient's interest and encourage a response.

Then there is the back-and-forth exchange where the conversation develops. Active listening translates to thoughtful replies, asking clarifying questions, and responding to the content of the previous message.

The transition to Offer might not be present in every digital interaction, but it represents a potential next step. The offer might come in the form of a request for help, invitation to a face to face meeting, a proposal for collaboration, etc. In digital communication, a clear and concise offer with a specific call to action is more likely to be successful.

The non linearity of Digital Communication

In traditional communication, ideas are presented in a sequential order, one point leading to the next. The flow of information is like a line, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Examples include face-to-face conversations, letters, presentations, or books.

Digital communication breaks free from the constraints of a single line. Information can be accessed and responded to in a non-linear way. We can jump from topic to topic, follow links, revisit previous points, or explore different perspectives on the same subject. Examples include websites, social media platforms, wikis, and comment sections.

Traditional communication typically has a pre-defined structure, while digital communication allows for a more fluid and dynamic flow of information.

In traditional communication, the sender dictates the order of information. In digital communication, the receivers have more control over how they access and consume information.

Digital communication often happens asynchronously, with messages being sent and received at different times. This allows for revisiting information and responding at one's own pace, further disrupting a linear flow.

The non-linearity of digital communication can be advantageous for exploring complex topics, finding specific information quickly, and engaging with diverse perspectives. But it can also lead to information overload, difficulty following a train of thought, and the potential for missing important context.

For clear and concise messages, traditional linear communication might be preferred. For exploration, research, and open discussions, the non-linearity of digital communication can be a powerful tool.

Q&A