Have you ever been part of a conversation where you thought you were truly communicating only to later learn that you and the other person left that conversation with completely different understandings? Agreement is elusive when you can’t be sure that the conversation is of equal importance to both parties. So what tips for ensuring agreement do you use?
Here is when you know something is wrong. When you see your friend, the conversation starts something like: “No I didn’t mean that.” They then say, “I thought you meant something completely different since we were talking about that other thing.” It dawns on you that a misunderstanding has taken place. You were both in the same room, participating in the same conversation but clearly you are not now on the same page.
It’s kind of like this very funny 30 second Chevy Cruze commercial. Everyone hears the same thing but is interpreting it differently .
You cannot blame it on the age of the people in this video because on any given day, this happens to most of us. Sometimes it even happens more than once a day. It reminds me that there are many chances for this to happen.
Here is what I do:
1. I repeat the conclusion as a statement.
2. I ask whether the person I am talking to is sure this is what they want or meant
3. I restate the conclusion before leaving to reconfirm
How do you confirm that you are on the same page as the person you are talking to?
Lynda @MommyPowers says
Great info, now I need to use it!
Brandi says
Oh, this is good! I really needed this. Sometimes I talk to folks and I’m like…were we in the same conversation or not?
Patricia A Patton says
YOu gotta watch those eyes as well to make sure someone is home even if they are giving lip service.