Think before we speak, listen before we answer

To be honest we all know that this idea of communicating can be very difficult. In fact it sometimes can be downright frustrating. Trying to teach a new idea or even transmit simple instruction can turn a good day into one of outright need for early dismissal.

Communication is the attempt to transmit ideas and information from one person to another through any number of ways. The problem arises when one or more of these persons are human. This problem arises due to the crazy reality that just because I know what I mean by a word does not mean that the other person understands it the same way. For this very reason specialized words are used in many professions in order to reduce error in communication. These very words that create clarity within the profession very often create vast problems outside of those professions.

Further more different generations have the ability to add and subtract meaning to words coined by their predecessors. While this would not seem to be a real issue it becomes so when that word is again modified by the next generation. Have you noticed just how many words have multiple definitions in our dictionaries?

So, just how are we supposed to communicate with others? First think about the person we are attempting to communicate with. Pick up on any clues on how they might use words or their meanings. If you are talking to IT there is a good chance they will refer to computers in a different way than you might. Be willing to ask questions to clarify your understanding of the conversation. This is often called getting on the same page. Phrases like “just to make sure we understand each other”, or, “just to make sure I hear what you are saying” can often save you from leaving with a false sense of security.

A second idea to improve communication is to listen to what they are saying instead of thinking of how we are going to respond to what we think they are saying (one of my favorite errors). While many of us believe that we are good at multitasking the truth is that only three percent of the population can actually multitask. The rest of us should actually listen to the person we are attempting to communicate with if we want to gain better skills at, you guessed it, communicating.

No neither of these ideas are new nor are they original, but they do work.

Have a great day!