The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.
RelationshipsCommunicationWorkAssumptionsClarityUnderstanding
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People often assume communication worked when it actually failed.
- In plain terms
- Thinking you were understood does not mean you were.
- What can you take from it?
- Verify understanding instead of assuming it.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you verify understanding?
- When do assumptions fail?
Another view
Sometimes communication is implied and does not need explicit confirmation.
More from George Bernard Shaw
Consistency is the enemy of enterprise, just as symmetry is the enemy of art.
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