ID Cards Listening to others The Blue Men April 1975 · ~ . Public Disclosure Authorized Neto8 about the men and 'Women oj the World Bank Group Public Disclosure Authorized plane connecting Algiers to Djanet and Tamanrasset. Listening We set out along the edge of the Tassili Plateau and the Erg d'Admer, or "Sea of Sand"; six Tuaregs will held key to guide us through the dunes and can­ yons to their village of Iherir, 200 communication miles away. To be' more comfortable, we dress The man recently put in charge of like them, wearing a sarwal (riding improving internal communications in pants), a gandurah (the blue robe of the Bank agrees with those who say desert dwellers), and the traditional there is a communications problem, Public Disclosure Authorized cheche (turban). Unlike other tribes but he adds that he is optimistic about of Moslem faith, it is the man among the institution's ability to improve the Tuaregs who veils his face, and itself. not the woman. This is an old custom Rene H. Springuel, in an interview that has the advantage of protecting with Bank Notes says that he consid­ the man's face from wind and sand ered the recent and rapid growth of on long caravan journeys. the Bank to be a major cause of the At the age of 15 or 16, men start current problem, and that it would wearing the 20-feet-long "tagilmust", take time for a larger Bank staff to concealing all but their eyes before "understand and accept" new ways of strangers. (It took us a while-and a communicating. "The problem was lot of patience-to be able to wrap not created overnight and it will not ours correctly, but there was always be solved overnight." a Tuareg nearby, ready to give a help­ "Only ten years ago," Mr. Springuel New m cards are being issued, and with staft cooperation, the task could be ing hand, while laughing at our in­ completed by the end of May. (Story on Page 3) continues, "tbe Bank was run essen­ ability.) tially as a moderately large partnership Public Disclosure Authorized The golden dunes of the great Erg where all key people knew each other unthread before our eyes. The pace is on a first-name basis. For these people Travel with desert's "Blue Men" slow. The sand is soft. A cool breeze there was not a communications prob­ blows that will soon sweep away our lem as we know it today." 'offers glimpse of another world footprints to render the dunes as virgin "Now," Mr. Springuel says, "we as before. But to think that the Sahara have to learn to communicate more is just sand dunes is erroneous. T or­ By Carole E. Devillers o.ccasions when I witnessed a display self-consciously and on a larger scale." mented by the forces of erosion and of emotion from these otherwise im­ "The Bank," he goes on, "shall not As Mohammed accepts a glass of volcanic eruption, it holds rock-strewn passive tribesmen during my three­ be manageable as a partnership again." the tea I have just prepared "desert valleys and towering natural monu­ week camel trek through the Sahara style", I look at him and wait for his ments. Sand covers about a fifth of this One manifestation of the problem­ Desert. reaction. Slowly he brings the small vast desert. the fashion is to label the problem glass to his lips, under his veil... The trip, set up by an agency spe­ Our guides are proud to show us one of communications; it could be Night has fallen and a cold gusty wind cializing in travel to remote parts of their infinite kingdom. Of Berber de­ something else, Mr. Springuel believes blows relentlessly, but the Blue Men the world, took our party of eight from scent, the Tuaregs, also called Blue -is that many Bank managers have remain undisturbed, well-protected by the United States to the wild canyons Men, because the indigo dye of their not learned to listen. their heavy burnous. of the Tassili n' Ajjer Plateau in South­ clothing rubs off on their skin, used to "To communicate effectively, one In the distance, jackals howl at the ern Algeria, to see the famous prehis­ control much of the Sahara, taxing its must know what needs to be commu­ fresh carcass of a camel; we pull up to toric paintings discovered by French caravans. nicated. One must make oneself listen the bright dancing flames of the fire in archaeologist Henri Lhote, and sample (Reaching Niger in the seventh -diligently, self-consciously, and per­ an attempt to seek security from this the way of life of the Tuaregs. To century, the Tuaregs successively oc­ ceptively. Managers, especially line forbidding environment. I watch Mo­ reach the paintings, we will ride cam­ cupied Gao and Timbuktu in Mali, managers, often allow their pre-occu­ hammed drink the tea in silence. I els, eat food cooked over open fires constituting an empire until the 18th pation with crises and hour-to-hour worry slightly ... did I put enough and sleep under the stars. century. Of this ancient empire re­ pressures to defeat meaningful com­ sugar? ... maybe too much? .. did I From Algiers, we fly down to Djanet, mains a hierarchic society composed munication with their staff, or even, boil it long enough? My questions find 700 miles south, where we meet our of three castes: the Nobles,lmaggeren; sometimes, their superiors." Mr. an answer when Mohammed finally guides and our camels. Second most the Vassals, I mrad; and the Slaves, Springuel admits that he, too, has turns to me and says: "Toi . Tar­ important oasis settlement after Ta­ lraouellen. At the top of the hierarchy often been inaccessible and he sug­ gui!" And I get a burst of applause manrasset (Hoggar Mountains), Djanet is the Tuareg king, the Amenokal. gests that all Bank managers should from the other Tuaregs. has trees, water, electricity and sturdy­ There are six main Tuareg tribes, set aside an hour daily-preferably Oh joy! Never did I receive any looking buildings. Beyond it, in all each speaking its own dialect.) the same hour every day-to be avail­ compliment with more pride than when directions, stretches empty desert. The On our first day, we don't travel able to members of their unit to dis­ this noble Tuareg accepted me among oasis dwellers are supplied twice a much. Instead, we spend the afternoon cuss individually any problems they his peers. This was one of the rare week with food and fresh fruit by the (Cont'd on Page 8, Col. 1) (Cont'd on Page 2, Col. 1) bank Notes April 1975 Communication ...Cont'd to evaluate internal communications with problems of internal communi­ cations.. r may wish to bring. activities, advise managers about how to become better communicators, and The study was headed by Davidson "A great listening effort must be devise additional means of improving Sommers, formerly a vice president of made all through the Bank," Mr. internal communications for a period the Bank, President and subsequently Springuel emphasizes. of between a year and 18 months. Chairman of the Equitable Life Assur­ He adds that he can't teach people ance Society of the United States, and Mr. Springuel joined the Bank in how to communicate but he can make currently a consultant. Twenty-two September 1961 as a loan officer for them more aware of the need. He staff members were on the task force. Colombia. He was assistant chief of tries to be a catalyst and says that any the Abidjan mission in 1965-67, the They conducted interviews with more solution to the problems of communi­ than 150 Bank staff members before first two years of the Permanent Mis­ cation at the Bank must come from sion in Western Africa. Since his re­ compiling their report. the managers and staff themselves. The report said that "higher priority "Advice can be offered and experience turn he has been Programs Division Chief in the EMENA Region, most of than heretofore must be accorded to shared, but solutions cannot be im­ the three essential elements of a com­ the time on North African countries posed," he adds. He would welcome munications program-keeping the and recently on Turkey, Greece, Cy­ suggestions and would be glad to dis­ staff informed, encouraging questions prus, Israel and Oman. cuss them with anyone who cares and discussion between staff members (Room F902--extension 6246). Last August, a report of the Com­ at different levels and in different parts Mr. Springuel was appointed to his munications Study Task Force termed of the organization, and facilitating position in the Organization Planning "essential" the need for more concern personal contacts among staff mem­ Department on March 1. He will try on the part of the Bank's managers bers generally. Rene H. Springuel Text of interview with Rene Springuel, communications "catalyst" Bank Notes: Is there a communica­ In the early 60's, it was only mildly listening effort must be made all agers are being taught in David Fren­ tions problem in the Bank? annoying to a government to have a through the Bank. zel's management course? Springuel: There is. All you have to World Bank loan held up for one When people say "no one is listen­ SpringueJ: I learned a lot from do is look at the comments from staff reason or another. We could afford to ing to me," I am convinced they have Frenzel. People who know me told me that were incorporated in the Task be perfectionist then.