Common Language

Remember the first time you used a walkie-talkie as a kid? Then running to a space where no one could see you, pressing the button and speaking into the mic with the usual “hello”, “okay” language of everyday. But that didn’t work, and soon someone would say, “no, no, you don’t say it like that”. Feeling silly but engaged to learn the rules of play which involves this new lingo, you quickly pick up “ten-four” and the “over and outs” of the play. 

That’s what we call common language. Communication that is understood by all.

As a quick sidebar, two-way radios, which came to be nick named “walkie-talkies” were invented by Canadian inventor Donald Hings in 1937. First called a “packset” when utilized for military infantry, then “handie-talkie” in 1942.

The first time I heard “five-by-five”, I was intrigued. What does that mean? Signal strength and readability, “I read you perfectly”, clarity is 100%. Still, at first “five-by-five” meant nothing until I understood the meaning. The irony of which was not lost.

When did 24/7 enter the lexicon?  

All these examples exemplify that to be effective communicators, not only does the information have to be “just in time”, but meaningful, clear in intent, and consistent in the messaging. Language that is commonly understood by all receiving it.

At times, in benefit communication, we fail in this regard. We assume that benefits are commonly understood. They are not, because time and again, we hear “I didn’t know that”, or “I didn’t understand that’s what that meant”. 

One of the reasons MP Benefits Inc. promotes aligning the group program to the corporate goals, performance measures, and safety is to make the language of benefits commonly understood by all for whom it is intended to use the plan. The more employees understand that the insurance is there not only to protect their income and their family at a time of crisis, but also there to ensure they are “fit for duty” and “ready to perform” at their very best.

When we push for organizations to understand that it takes more than the latest computer or technology interface to make employees more efficient, they also need the tools of vision and hearing, we do this to promote clarity of understanding of the overall intention of the group insurance. We term this approach benefits for our Intellectual Athlete. By the same token, safety protocols that insists, rightly so, to wear steel-toed boots and a hard hat, also needs to promote the orthotics to ensure those team members can walk without pain. We term this Industrial Athlete benefits. 

Benefits for people expected to perform at their very best is considered “Best-in-Class”.

We’re here to help make benefits understood by all through on-going, “just in time” education.

This is where we drive innovation in benefits. Let’s have a conversation. Give us a call. 

Note: this was written without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI)