04/05/2024

Avoiding Misunderstandings at Work

How to get on the same page

On a recent coaching call, my client talked about one of his direct reports needing to be more strategic. He was frustrated and felt that this person just didn’t have what it takes to be successful in their role long term. I asked him how he defined “strategic” and whether he had ever discussed this in more depth with his direct report.

I already knew the answer to those questions because my client tends to operate at a very fast pace and assumes that “everyone knows what strategic means.” But everyone doesn’t know what strategic means to him and what that looks like in terms of work performance. Could it be that if he took the time to share what he wants in a “strategic leader” at his organization that he just might find that he already has it?

These types of misunderstandings and miscommunications happen often. We leave a meeting feeling assured that everyone is in agreement and has their next steps and assignments well in hand, only to revisit the very same discussion at the next meeting and realize that much remains unresolved after all. This happens in delegation too. You think you have delegated a project and have that off of your plate, only to find that what you were expecting was not what you received and now it’s back on your plate.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Chatsworth Consulting Group.