Making Sure You Are Understood is YOUR Responsibility
One of the managers at a company I am involved with gave an assignment to 12 employees.?The responses came back and were completed in 12 different ways.?Clearly, the directions were not well understood.
I asked our teenage son to bring in the garbage cans.?He told me he did.?I left to run an errand and saw our yard waste can still on the tree lawn.?I was quite perturbed and called him, asking why he did not bring in the yard waste can.?“Dad, you told me to bring in the garbage cans.”?I have a pretty good sense of when he is being a smart aleck; I think he honestly thought I just wanted to him in the garbage cans and I would bring in the disgusting yard waste can.?Of course, it might be the teenage brain too.?
In Army ROTC, I was told that every time I give a speech or orders I should, “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them.”?It is also a good idea to have some repeat back to you what you are asking.?If they don’t understand or do what you want, look in the mirror first.?You probably did not explain exactly what you wanted.??
President at Roopco Strategic Integrated Communication
1 年Communicating clearly and concisely is a skill. It's especially important for leaders as they articulate their organizations' strategy and vision. However, it does take time and thought to communicate effectively and succinctly. I'm often reminded of Mark Twain's saying, "I would have written you a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time." :)