Small change: check for clarity

The gap between what gets said and what gets heard in meetings can be wider than any of us like to think.

Memories, meta-programs, values, beliefs, attitudes and a host of other factors prime all of us to delete, distort and generalise the information we receive. So much so, in fact, that you could argue it’s a miracle when human beings do end up with a shared understanding of anything.

The solution is simple: before leaving any meeting, run a ‘clarity check’. Ask those around you to summarise what they’ve understood from the conversation, and for their interpretation of next steps. You might also wish to do this yourself, when receiving information or instruction from others.

Something to consider: am I really picking up what others are putting down?

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