The Importance of Understanding
Lunchtime discussion today brought up the significance of clarity in language, when a certain individual started declaring their love for the rest of the team. The revelation that there are many different types of love was of huge relief to all involved, but misinterpretation is not always so trivial.
How often have you thought you understood what someone was saying only to later realise that you had things totally wrong? Or worse: how many times have you said you understood things, when in reality you didn’t have a clue? This kind of misunderstanding can easily be eliminated: simply responding with your own interpretation of events will show if both sides are of one mind, yet this type of reply is regularly avoided, usually in favour of a “Yes, I understand” type reaction.
In business relations, time constraints are a significant factor in this way of working, and therefore it is often beneficial to have detailed discussions early on – when both sides have the time to listen and take on-board other viewpoints. It also leads to a better understanding later on in the project, as both sides learn more about the methods and characteristics of the other, allowing communications to run smoothly, even as deadlines approach.
The type of communication involved can also impact on the levels of agreement and understanding. While face-to-face conversation enables easy interaction, it can leave participants overwhelmed if they are in a many-to-one setting, or an unfamiliar environment. It can also be difficult to take on board technical information in such a setting, and a discussion of this sort can be open to interpretation. Phone/video calls also have the immediacy of response, but they can encourage people to go with the flow, and say things/make decisions they wouldn’t otherwise have done – leaving both sides with a sense of discord. E-mail offers more precision and can be returned to for reference and consideration; but may be ignored, unseen, or unanswered – and consequently need following up – which can lead to frustrations or disagreements.
If you are able to explain things in a variety of ways, and answer any questions effectively, rather than repeat a few stock phrases, it will enable information to be comprehended regardless of who your audience is. All the above underlines the importance of fully understanding your subject matter, in order that others can fully understand you.
Tags: business relations, communication, eCommerce, language, Manor Quarry, understanding
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