Today I was asked to join my center manager and one of the section manager along with another TLS (Team Lead Supervisor) to discuss an incentive program we want to implement at the center to encourage increased performance and recognition. One comment that was made as we were discussing, is that I think too fast. I had made a suggestion that a couple of the members in the meetings didn't quite understand. I apologized and they said, "It’s okay. You just think fast." It really got me thinking about how I communicate, my style, and also the speed and wording of what I say.
This situation reminded me of something I had read in chapter one. On page 5, it discusses what happens during conversations. "People create and exchange a complex set of messages with one another and in doing so create meanings for each message and for the interaction."
I found this quite profound since the way I was communicating was not helping to create a shared meaning. I was thinking in terms of my understanding not in terms of how they could understand. I had to slow down and try again to explain my thoughts at a pace and in a way that they could understand. In the end we all created a game plan on how to approach our new competition and found that shared meaning.
As I thought about this situation through the day, I realized that I do this a lot. I speak and communicate at the same rate of speed (it seems) as my brain works. I just need to think in my mind and formulate exactly what it is I need to convey or explain and do so at an adjusted rate that is comfortable for those that I'm sharing with.
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