Talk to Me

Communication is a lost art; in today's world it feels like the younger generations don't know how to communicate well and the older generations are afraid to communicate at all so they don't offend someone.

In every generation there is communication, today we have gone so far away from being able to understand one another in verbal communication, it is a battle just for some people to not be offended by your choice of words. The intent is completely misinterpreted behind the verbiage and then you find yourself defending a very simple statement or comment.

Yes words hold meaning, however their meaning is not universal. Give the person communicating a chance to explain their intent on what is being displayed. It is ok for you to ask of their intent if you are unsure. Don't assume your experience of the verbiage is the same from them. For example, in vocal communications, a simple phrase may be playful to one individual and aggressive to another. If you know your company then you should take a breath and analyze the possibility of incorrect verbiage, or the possibility in a misunderstanding of what that may mean to you before you rip them a new one.

We all speak differently, if you are actually listening to understand not to reply it makes a world of difference. I am not trying to change some basics like saying NO and actually meaning something else. In my opinion NO means NO. YES, means YES. Don't play games with people and their intellect simply because you can and are better versed in language play than your audience.

Also take into consideration the factors of the situation of your communication. You don't know what someone is going through. Talking things out can seem like a waste of time, but it can help develop friendships, relationships, etc. so that you can navigate freely.

Another fun one is communication in messaging. Please for goodness' sake be patient! Sarcasm, jokes, even romance can get lost in translation when it is not in person. Let's be honest it can still get confusing in person sometimes. When using a different form of communication try to be very obvious, use simple terms, and know your audience or correspondence.

Wishing everyone would take more time to communicate better and to learn the best not only be heard but to listen.