Comprehension is Key

"Well, I said it clearly, so they should get it."

Words of doom.

We love to say that communication is the key to leadership. But I'm going to challenge that.

Communication is not the key. Comprehension is.

Think about how people process information. Some folks hear your exact words and take them at face value. They can't decipher the deeper intent behind them. Others might give you a completely honest answer, but because of how their brain is wired, it's a half-truth to what you actually meant. Kids are masters at this. They hear the literal words, and their execution is completely different from what was looping in our heads. Check out this hilarious, very literal answer to see exactly what I mean.

The 8 Ways to Fold a Sheet of Paper

In our On Purpose Adventures workshops, we run a simple activity. We hand people a piece of paper, tell them to close their eyes and give them one instruction: "Fold it in half." That's it. No other parameters.

Do you know how many different results we get from that one simple request? Eight.

Some people fold it "hamburger" or portrait style. Others fold it "hot dog" or landscape style. And even then, the fold could be on the top, the bottom, the left, or the right.

We'll gladly answer any question we're asked. However 90% of adult groups we work with never actually ask the burning question that many people have: "Which way do we fold it?"

If an instruction as basic as folding a piece of paper yields eight different outcomes, is it any wonder why teams run into issues with complex projects?

Diversity of Thought Means Diversity of Processing

We talk a lot about diversity of thought on teams, and we need it. We need people who hear something and think about it completely differently than we do, because our customers and our teams are going to interpret things through their own unique lenses.

If everyone on your team processes information the exact same way, you have a massive blind spot.

So the question isn't, "Did I speak clearly?"

It’s: Did my words actually convey the intent I wanted? Or, to borrow Brené Brown's phrasing, did I paint "done" well enough for you?

The Dual Responsibility of Clarity

When ambiguity creeps in, the responsibility goes both ways:

1. For the leader: It's on us to realize that people think differently. We have to make sure our vision is painted so clearly that "done" leaves zero room for misinterpretation.
2. For the team member: If you interpret things differently or if something feels ambiguous did you ask enough questions to get crystal clear before diving in?

Stop assuming that just because the words left your mouth, the destination was clear. Slow down, check for comprehension, and embrace the fact that different perspectives make the team stronger.

How does your team handle ambiguity?