The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
- George Bernard Shaw
Successful communication is a two-way street, involving people speaking, listening and understanding what has been said. There can be conversation without having communication, which can lead to misunderstandings and disagreements.
8 Comments:
Bad communication has been the downfall of many relationships...many of which I have lost.
Hi Lisa, thanks for dropping in.
Communication-getting it right can be tricky. Many times when I think hubby and I are on the same page, I find we aren't even in the same book.
Hi Linda, although I like to think I have a great command of the English language it does not mean I am a great communicator! Thanks for the reminder.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
EXCELLENT post. How many people forget to LISTEN? They are too busy figuring out what they are going to say next that they don't truly listen. If I catch myself doing that I purposely stop my train of thought and look in to the person's eyes. It is also good to repeat what they are saying, "so you think that......" A good reminder!
Mandy, Hi, thanks for visiting, and you are right, one does not equal the other.
Hi Katherine, and thank you. I think we are all guilty of zoning out sometimes. Something we all should work on.
I have to admit I laughed after reading this quote. My hubby and I had a conversation today (I use the word conversation loosely) in which we both realized after that neither of us had heard a word the other said - lol! I think being a good listener is much harder than being a good speaker.
Sometimes communication doesn't happen even when we're listening.
At lunch Sunday, Linda said something about "post office" and "dentistry".
"Hmmm?" More stuff about dentistry.
Not helpful - "What about the post office?"
"What post office?" Trying to be a good active listener, I repeat what was said: "There could be a post office area side on dentistry."
Laughter from the other side of the table.
"What?"
She tried again: "There could be a post on the serious side of dentistry."
"Oh." Pause... "You should write these down - it's good material."
Hi Talon,
I think we've those kind of "conversations" too. I talk, he talks, but neither of us are talking about the same thing. All we get out of that is what we had to say. Frustrating or funny, it just depends on the circumstances.
DH- What can I say? Or better yet, "what did I say?"
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