Clear as Mud: Finding Clarity in Communication | PayProMedia

By: Crystal Horner

Clear as Mud

Warning: You?re about to have a ?Well, duh!? moment.

?

Clarity is important.

(There it is?Duh.)

Bear with me for just a few minutes of your busy day.? It may just save you a headache or two.

Remember your elementary school days?? Not the PB&J, recess, nap time, or finger painting.? (Let?s pause for a moment of silence for the good old days?Okay, back on track.)

What did your teachers say over and over again? ??There?s no such thing as a dumb question.? ?Back then you probably took that to heart for about, oh, two seconds.? Then, if you were like me, you went back to fearing the potential laughter or criticism others would give in response to a ?dumb? question.

?

Sometimes we sacrifice clarity for comfort.? Sometimes it?s just easier to not ask questions, define context, or gather important details.? But we must remember that, in the long run, it?s worth it.

In college, I quickly learned to ask my professors clarifying questions about assignments if I didn?t quite understand the scope of requirements for big projects.? And guess what?? Those quick emails and moments spent after class to ask a question or two paid off in not only my grades but also my learning experience.? (Plus, with the cost of tuition these days, you want it to count!)? Why?? Because understanding leads to success.? If you?re not aware of the range of your responsibilities?the purpose behind the tasks?you probably won?t meet all of the expectations.

So how does this apply to you?? What areas of your life require complete understanding?? Where do you need clarity to do your job well?to live well??

By no means is this limited to projects and jobs.? Clarity matters in relationships!? Whether you?re communicating with a client or your own spouse, knowing his or her goals, expectations, and hopes can be invaluably helpful?not to mention fun.

?

In client relationships, asking clarifying questions (and paying attention to the answers!) yields dependability and trust.? For instance, let?s say you own a small restaurant.? People shuffle in and out, ordering specials and enjoying the environment.? But, how important is it for the servers to understand their customers? expectations?? If dear, sweet Belva orders toast, does she expect it with butter, jelly, or dry?? This may seem trivial, but even the tiniest incidences of clarification can determine the level of customer satisfaction.? It shows that their needs matter to you.

So the next time you find yourself in a meeting or Skype conversation (whether it?s with a business associate, client, or your great uncle Harold), don?t be afraid to ask questions, to get the full story, to show that you care.

?

We?d love to hear from you!? How does clarity (or lack thereof) affect your everyday living?? Leave a comment below.

Crystal Horner
Content Specialist
View Crystal's Profile
?

?

Source: http://www.paypromedia.com/2013/02/04/clear-as-mud-finding-clarity-in-communication/

earthquake san diego Hurricane Isaac Sam Claflin Tony Farmer West Nile virus symptoms snooki ll cool j