Letters.

CW is definitely new and improved. Of course, it's the editorial content that counts, and you're offering some compelling and practical communication articles. Even though I've retired as a professional-in-residence and IABC adviser to the student chapter at California State University, Chico, my interest remains keen.

Bog VIVIAN

Chico, Calif., USA

Congratulations to Bill Jensen for his insightful piece on the communication chasm between leaders and employees (Oct./Nov. 2003). My consulting experience tracks exactly with his research. In a time when there is great ambiguity and chaos in the workplace, it is only logical that employees would try to protect themselves from marginal information. There just isn't the time or the energy to deal with such stuff. It's a critical lesson for professional communication people, who are an obvious part of the overload problem.

It also exposes the need to finally address the role of the supervisor (I hate the word because it implies a checker rather than a leader) in communicating with his or her people about the things that matter. Communication is an all-pervasive process when viewed from the perspective of the person on the receiving end. And first-level leaders should be the organization's interpreters of business priorities and how they affect employee roles and responsibilities. We finally must engage that serious challenge.

ROGER D'APRIX

D'Aprix & Co. LLC

Rochester, N.Y., USA