Four people, one meeting, four different understandings

In a meeting of four, our goal was to agree on a topic that was both complex and, we thought, basic. The next day, we realized we’d each understood a different version of the same subject. We were talking about the same thing, but with variations.

A few practices that prevent misunderstandings

• Avoid vague expressions: “with that,” “for your team,” “the people on the 2nd floor”… They open the door to every interpretation.
• Clarify terms, especially a word like “client,” which can mean a consumer, a partner, or the team requesting the service.
• Name your counterparts clearly, especially when several people share the same first name.
• Define a clear objective for the meeting.
• At the end, rather than asking “Does everyone understand?”, offer a written summary of the points covered.

Clarity is a deliberate act

These reflexes seem obvious, yet we often neglect them. A little precision in wording and a written summary are enough to turn a confused meeting into a shared decision.