What the Big Bang Theory Can Teach Us about Communications

More and more I enjoy the Big Bang Theory, and no it is not because the theme song is done by a Canadian band - although that is not a bad thing either, but I digress.

The appeal for me really is that with the comedy, there are lessons that we can all take-away and use in real life.  Here's a quick look at the lovable and absolutely amusing characters of the show:

1.  Dr. Raj Koothrappali - This sweet shy boy/man could be a blog posting all on its own.  Come to think of it, each character could have a separate posting; however, I will keep it to one for now. 

With his extreme skyness,  his "selective mutism" condition, and his desire to become a part of American culture, Raj sometimes misses the nuances of situations.  Combine this with his naivety and he sometimes speaks when he shouldn't.  Of course this provides all sorts of comic relief, but the lesson learned is really:  do your homework and know what the issues are both on the surface and, more importantly, below the surface. 

2.  Howard Wolowitz - Wow, there are really so many things to say.  Where would one start? 

Well, despite his over active need for "love" and his incredible collection of terrible pick-up lines, there is a very kind and dependable side to Howard.  I think of the episode when Penny wanted to give Leonard a surprise birthday party because he never had one when he was a kid and just how far Howard would go to help Penny make this happen for Leonard.  Despite being deathly allergic to peanuts, he ate them in order to keep Leonard at the hospital long enough to get the party together.  The lesson we can learn from Howard:  be sure that the people that you choose to be on your team are as dedicated (minus taking a such a risk with one's life) to the cause and doing things right, as you are.  Your team and your communications are only as good as your weakest link.

So really, who has the
higher IQ?
 Just Saying

3.  Penny - Over and above being the eye candy for the male viewers, Penny has a completely different set of smarts than "the boys".  Bringing a softer side of things and a completely different outlook and set of experiences, Penny has actually helped them evolve.  The lesson learned from Penny's character and interaction is:  when forming your team it is absolutely critical to ensure that you have someone who thinks differently than the rest.  This person will not only challenge you to see things differently, but help your messages be clearer and more on target, thus you will increase your probability of successfully communicating.    

4.  Dr. Leonard Hofstadter - Good ole Leonard.  Growing up with a world famous child psychiatrist and neuroscientist mother who severely lacked expressing any love at all, Leonard is probably the closest to not being a geek of all "the boys".  The lesson that we learn from Leonard is pretty straight forward: be consistent, be steady and never give up.  An important lesson in communicating, Leonard demonstrated this with his consistent pursuit of Penny. 

5.  Dr.  Sheldon Cooper - Perhaps one of the most kookiest characters on TV right now, Sheldon is hilarious.  How the writers came up with the idea of someone like Sheldon is fun in itself.  Part child, part man, part human being who is borderline insane, Sheldon demonstrates one of the most important things that we can learn from The Big Bang Theory.  Lesson learned from Sheldon:  with continuous support from your team, individuals can learn from others in order to become better at a task, as a co-worker, as a person.  Like communications should be, it is a two-way street.  People have to want to help you, rather than just shut you out.   

Finally, the overall lesson that we can take away from the characters on The Big Bang Theory:  be true, be loyal, be honest, and always share.  These are simple tenants to good communications. 

Do you follow these tenants?  Do you share or do you shut people out?

Photos obviously courtesy of The Big Bang Theory