OMG and we are now into November and I think that Santa Claus is stretching and yawning!
I’m Christian Robicheau and for this week I am pleased to share our president’s editorial with you.
Donna J. Jodhan discusses what happens when explanations are not clearly spelled out.
Give this one a read and see what you think.
Write to Donna at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca and share your thoughts.
Happy weekend to you!
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When Explanations Are Not Clearly Spelled Out
By Donna J. Jodhan
This is becoming more and more of a problem in our everyday lives. We are moving at such a fast pace that we often fail to take the time to properly explain what needs to be done.
Too often, we are in a hurry to get instructions out of the way. We do not have the patience to explain exactly what we want, and we sometimes assume that others will understand what we mean without providing enough detail. Whether instructions are given in writing or delivered orally, a lack of clarity can create confusion and lead to mistakes.
And mistakes can have consequences.
A poorly explained task may result in something being done incorrectly, delayed, or even overlooked altogether. In some situations, the consequences may be minor. In others, they can be serious, particularly when instructions involve important responsibilities where accuracy matters.
Clear communication should never be treated as a luxury or as something that can be rushed through. Taking an extra few minutes to explain a task properly can save hours of frustration later. More importantly, it can prevent errors that might otherwise have been avoided.
Those giving instructions also have a responsibility to make sure their message is understood. This means choosing our words carefully, providing the necessary details, and, when appropriate, asking the person receiving the instructions to repeat or clarify what they have understood.
We must also remember that good communication requires patience. Not everyone interprets information in the same way, and what may seem obvious to one person may not be obvious to another.
In our rush to get things done, we must not sacrifice clarity for speed. A few extra minutes spent explaining what is required can make all the difference.
More care must be taken. More thought must be given to how we communicate. And, above all, when something needs to be done, we should make sure we have clearly spelled out exactly what we mean.
I’d like to leave you with this for your consideration.
A man stands holding a package in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other. He stares at the instructions with a deeply confused expression, furrowing his brow and looking puzzled as he tries to make sense of the complicated directions. His posture and facial expression clearly show uncertainty, as if he has no idea where to begin or how to deliver the package.
Image = An orange wooden peg game piece stands upright in the foreground on a softly lit surface with pastel pink, peach, and purple watercolor tones, surrounded by overlapping black hand-drawn circular loops that create an abstract and complicated pattern, with a shallow depth of field keeping the peg in sharp focus while the background fades into a gentle blur, suggesting a person navigating an unknown and uncertain path.
To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit http://www.donnajodhan.com