September 28, 2024

By osmosis

Clock

There are communications problems and communications problems.

Type one – the kind of problems that exist when one person has failed to explain things clearly, and they’re expecting the other side to fill in the gaps and understand by osmosis without further help.

Assuming you recognise the issue, the solution is to slow down, spend time, and explain what makes the hands go around.

The result: no communication problem.

Type two is a whole other mess of running things backwards. It’s when someone names it a communication problem instead of what it really is … the other person gets it, but doesn’t agree.

Assuming you recognise the issue, the solution also involves slowing down and explaining, but this time it’s first to find common ground, then to bring differences into sharp relief.

At least you can agree what they’re arguing about.

And then it’s decision time.

Skippy strategy: Clarity, then decision.

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