Communication is the cornerstone of civilization, the mother of all science, and most importantly the manner by which we all grok our environment. It is a realm in which we all live yet few choose to inhabit. Many have fallen into the false belief that words bear meaning of their own accord. That a denotation will carry their meaning sufficiently through each verbal encounter. Unfortunately, words bear meanings inherent to the individual, thus to expect each individual to respond equally to each use of a word is the equivalent of expecting each individual to be of the same stature, clothed in the same attire, wearing the same facial expression, etc. A true communicator knows that to speak is to assess the audience and attain an understanding for their needs vs. your expertise (or vice versa) prior to speaking a single word. This method of ‘focused’ communication is the type that tends to propel those that utilize it into the forefront of projects and leadership positions. Take the average politician these days… the first skill that they must possess is the ability to think before they speak, often times they must weigh many hefty alternatives in the span of a half second in order to be perceived by their constituents as being knowledgeable and capable. Challenge yourself to always assess your audience before you speak. As miscommunications lie at the root of all interpersonal problems.
The use of the example of grok was intended; however, it can be misleading as where most people do not understand that word except those that have read Robert A. Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land; the majority of miscommunications that occur today are misunderstandings rather than complete unfamiliarity. When you realized that you did not understand that word you treated it as such; whereas, had you possessed some understanding of the word, no matter how different it was from the word’s original intended meaning, you would have carried on as if you understood my message. In some cases this is inconsequential, yet in most cases it can be detrimental to one’s desired end goal; whether it be a discussion with one’s spouse or co-worker, an advertising campaign, a motivational pep talk, or any other form of human interaction and the exchange of ideas.