The Unintended Consequences of Miscommunication
Ever had one of those moments where you said something completely neutral, but the other person took offense? Maybe you meant to offer help, but they heard it as criticism.
📌 Story:Emma was at work when her colleague, Jake, mentioned he was behind on a project. Wanting to be helpful, Emma said, "Maybe you just need to manage your time better." She meant it as a suggestion, but Jake felt attacked and defensive. Instead of appreciating her advice, he shut down.
Later, Emma realized that her message wasn't the issue—the way it was received was. If she had said, "That sounds stressful! Can I help in any way?", it might have landed better.
How to Improve Message Delivery
Before speaking, pause and consider:
✅ What’s my intention behind these words?
✅ Could this be misinterpreted?
✅ How might they feel hearing this from me?
Better Communication in Action:
🔹 Instead of “You should…” ➝ Try: “Have you considered…?”
🔹 Instead of “You always…” ➝ Try: “I’ve noticed that sometimes…”
💡 Reflection: When was the last time you felt misunderstood? How could you have adjusted your words to improve clarity?
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