Intentionality is key in communication.
Yet, in such a busy world…
It’s easy to speak before you REALLY know what you want to say.
That can cause misunderstandings and poison relationships.
Picture this:
You spend hours making a delicious meal for someone…
It comes out just the way you wanted. They enjoy it thoroughly!
Then they turn to you and say:
“That was really good, but now the kitchen is a mess.”
Are you going to remember the first part or the second?
If you’re like most people, you WILL remember the second.
But what exactly were they trying to say?
- Do they want you to cook more (because it’s good)…
- Or do they want you to cook LESS (because it’s messy)?
ANSWER: Odds are, they didn’t even know what they wanted.
Unfortunately, garbled communication like this is common.
No matter what the speaker wanted, what they’re likely to GET is fewer tasty meals. They could have delivered a clearer message and been much more likely to have their needs met. Instead, they probably provoked resentment (or at least confusion).
Remember these three rules:
- Before you start a conversation, know what you intend to communicate.
- Clarify what result you want to achieve (more meals or cleaner kitchen).
- Narrow your communication to a single intended objective at one time.
Communication is a toolkit. Every conversation is a new opportunity to bridge the gap between your world and someone else’s. Choose the right tool for the job and handle it with care.