Friday, November 4, 2016

“You’re going gangbusters” is what the senior manager told her team member to recognize their effort.  The employee’s unexpected response? “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what that means.”  Leaders often assume that their communications are clear and understood. Unfortunately, language is inherently vague and a listener’s verbal comprehension depends upon much more than just the speaker, the listener and the message. So the next time you trot out a legacy idiom or assume that someone understands how their work connects to the organization’s values, ask yourself this question: What assumptions underly my communication and why have I made them?

Factual Friday brought to you by Chad Harvey & The Result Center