Miscommunication is Normal
That communication happens at all is a miracle. That it often happens so poorly is hardly surprising.
Any work that tries to help people become better communicators, has to start from the view that miscommunication is normal.
Just using the spoken word, look at the process that we go through to pass a simple idea from one person to another.
How It Works
First I have a thought, which I frame using my view of the world.
I translate that thought into language; I then translate that language into a series of sound waves using my vocal cords.
These sound waves travel through the air until they hit your eardrum, you then translate those sounds into recognisable symbols (words) which you interpret using a similar, but not identical language into an idea that you frame using your view of the world.
Miscommunication is Normal
That communication happens at all is a miracle.
That it often happens so poorly is hardly surprising.
So you see if we start with the idea that miscommunication is normal, then we stand a far greater chance of making communication work.
The usual case with communication skills is that most people assume they make themselves clear and easy to understand so if there’s a problem, it’s with the other person and not us. However, reading about the seven barriers to communication will help you see how easy it is to detrimentally impact the messages we wish to convey.
Sort of like driving a car: we’re always the good, safe, careful driver; it’s the other guy who’s at fault.
The Act of Communicating
Given the fact that the act of communicating is such a complex procedure with all sorts of hidden traps to get you into trouble, it’s rather a miracle that communication happens at all!
Think of how many times you’ve said, or heard others say:
“But I thought you meant….”
or
“I assumed you were talking about….”
or
“No, you’ve completely misunderstood what I was saying.”
These little phrases come out of our mouths daily.
Communication Skills sometimes require really hard work
We’re so used to saying them we don’t think about the wider implications: that communication skills sometimes require really hard work, and we need communication skills training to make ourselves clear and to get ourselves understood by others.
Even the words on this page: we’re assuming that you’re reading and interpreting them with the same meaning as they were written.
We can’t be completely sure of that though.
Miscommunication is Normal – Take Responsibility
What we can do is take responsibility for making our words as clear as possible.
Communicating when it really matters – with colleagues, at meetings, during disagreements, at negotiations – requires skill, thoughtfulness, and an ability to take responsibility for others’ understanding.
Communication Skills are not something that should be left to chance.
Miscommunication is Normal
Impact Factory runs
Open Communication Skills Courses
Tailored Communication Skills Training
Five-Day Elite Communicate With Impact Workshops
and personalised
One-to-One Communication Skills Training
for anyone who is interested in
Communication Skills Issues
