Karin van der Laag

We always say it. We need to communicate better. Everything comes down to what we say and the way we say it. In the last few years I have learnt a lot about the way I communicate.

I have found that thoughtfulness and “reading the room” are very important before one decides to speak. Listening is more important than speaking and when you do speak it should be considered and intelligent – especially in a professional setting.

My background is in film and television which is a tricky profession. You would think that film and television professionals are good communicators but there are a number of potential pitfalls.

Firstly, creative people often like the sounds of their own voices, so listening is not always uppermost on their list. We interrupt, we glaze over waiting for our turn to speak, and we don’t really hear what the other person is saying.

There is also a huge problem with familiarity. Creative professionals often have to balance the public and the private self. We are often dealing with emotions and very personal issues, but somehow, we can’t become personal with our colleagues.

At drama school it was drummed into us not to become eogtistical and indulgent. We were told that we had to distinguish between the times we would be rolling around on the floor acting as beasts and when we need to be quiet and listen to the Stage Manager because a light might be about to fall on our heads! That is an extreme example, but you get the gist.

One has to realise that although the creative professions are very collaborative, there is a distinct hierarchy. There has to be, otherwise chaos would prevail and Art would remain in the wings.

I am still learning, but love the brain switch from formality to imformality required by my profession.

by Karin van der Laag

30 September 2025