Miscommunication is an inevitable part of communication.But sometimes there’s a deeper problem.  Sometimes you’ll notice that one person miscommunicates at a rate that’s noticeably higher than your other team members. And at a certain point, you realize: this isn’t a series of one-off miscommunications.This is a person who isn’t skilled at communication yet. (Respectfully, sometimes…

Psychological safety is a concept popularized by Amy Edmondson, and defined as a shared belief within a group or team that it is safe to take interpersonal risks. In simple terms, it means people feel comfortable: In a psychologically safe environment: In contrast, low psychological safety leads to silence, fear of speaking up, reduced innovation,…

Let’s start with a thought experiment. You’re in a meeting. Your colleague says, “We need to move faster on this project.” What you heard: We’re behind schedule and need to cut corners to catch up. What she meant: We should prioritize ruthlessly instead of trying to do everything, because focus moves us forward faster than…

There’s a common approach to miscommunication that sounds reasonable on the surface: Clarity – be so clear that miscommunication can’t happen in the first place. So you over-explain things. You list out every possible facet of the issue. You try to anticipate every angle where confusion might occur and address it preemptively. You build in…

You’re stuck in a loop. Chris has asked you the same question three times. Each time you answer it. And each time they come back. You’re starting to wonder if you explained it badly. Or if Chris isn’t paying attention. Or if Chris just isn’t capable of understanding the thing you’re trying to explain. None…

You explain something.Your team member’s face goes blank.They ask: “What?” That’s it. That’s their entire clarifying question. And now you’re stuck. Because “What?” could mean anything. Did they not hear you? Did they not understand the concept? Are they confused about the context? Do they not know what you mean by the jargon you used?…

The Origin: When Your Leadership Team Became a Courtroom Back in my early days as Chief Operating Officer, I watched something painfully frustrating unfold. Our leadership team – capable, intelligent, well-intentioned people – would get stuck in a pattern I now call “the blame spiral.” It would start innocently. Someone would say, “Wait, I thought…