What Do You Mean When You Say ______?

Have you ever used a term and meant it one way, but someone who hears that term has a different definition in mind?

When this happens—when two people use the same term but mean different things by it—there is, by definition, a problem in communication. Not only does it make it more likely that they’ll talk past each other, but they may get frustrated with each other when this misunderstanding results in unexpected actions.

Furthermore, each side may not even realize that others have a markedly different understanding of what’s being said, and so they never stop to make sure that everyone’s on the same page. And this lack of clarification just results in more frustration or misunderstandings, even though the root issue may go unidentified.

When communicating with others, it’s essential to be able to understand the words being used. And if there’s any doubt—or if there’s any cause to suspect that maybe both parties aren’t on the same page—the best thing to do is to stop and confirm that what is being said is actually being understood.