Say What?

It is impossible to avoid misinterpretation. No matter how hard we try to convey our message accurately, someone will read something into our words that we did not mean to say. Part of our task as communicators is to manage those misinterpretations. We do this by asking questions to confirm understanding, listening with concentration and asking again if necessary. It is equally important to manage our own misinterpretations. If we ask for clarification when we are unsure, or rephrase what we’ve heard to see if we “get the message”, we will keep confusion to a minimum.