Next time you’re arguing with someone, stop and ask them to repeat back what you just said. It is amazing how often they can’t or it is totally different.

People tend to fight the battle they want, rather than the one at hand. Sadly, this is common in relationships and marriage.

Basically, the fault can fall on either side.

Don’t write merely to be understood. Write so that you cannot possibly be misunderstood. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Anyway, not having any idea what this is about, and thus making it a bit hard to communicate about – I think, with most communication it’s a two-way street with the majority of the responsibility for good communication on the sender. The receiver, or “communicatee” has to make some effort to understand, but once that is done, I agree with Mike here, miscommunication usually falls on the shoulders of the one doing the communicating.

If you take the time to express yourself well, explain things in detail, clear up ambiguities, etc. you’ll start to see that people understand you more. When it comes to business I find that over communication is a safe bet. Make sure people get what you’re saying, don’t leave any room out there for failed communication and you’ll be ok most of the time.

I’m finding that I’m now putting as much as possible in writing these days, although it chews up some valuable time, it has already saved me from several potential issues that would have chewed up even more time.

If it’s in writing it’s hard to refute… If it’s verbal it’s way too easy for the communicatee to turn their perspective into fact.

Cheers.

Mike Davidson, after a recent misunderstanding during conversation, has announced he is now married.
Let this be a lesson to all readers: miscommunication with a stranger can end in matrimony.

— false

I think the obsessive side of your personality may be too close to the surface this week. Call a friend and go relax. You always want to do better tomorrow, but no sense beating yourself up :-)

Or was that a trap to see if we’d catch something? Like those “and and” duplications our eyes don’t catch because they occur at the end of one line and the beginning of another?

But yeah, I’d say that we’re all in the same boat: we could all learn to
to communicate more clearly.

;-)

(Editor’s Note: Good catch. Fixed!)

Emma: Unfortunately I think it means I need to get out a bit less and that I need to start overcommunicating in a much more official way. :)

;o)