“Shaving” Off a Little Miscommunication in Messaging

Every morning, I find myself using my electric razor to shave for a “second time.”   I’ve already gone across my face with the same razor once but find a strange desire to do it again. After 25 years in professional life, I seem to be consumed by missing a whisker or two, which during the day will grow and stick out. The question that comes to mind during that second shave is, “how would people perceive me with this errant whisker on my face?”

To be honest, I really don’t think anybody would care. But it reminds me every morning that perhaps I am too consumed by what others think about me. Frankly, I overthink it.

I also appreciate this unique individual complexity because I think the same way when I write or speak. I find myself rereading emails and text messages constantly to ensure what I want to say is received the way it was intended.

 There is a lot of vitriol out in the world---way too much.  Everyone should be honest with themselves and others. But, maybe if everyone, including myself, would take an extra second to think about how messages are perceived, and what the words might mean to the recipient, we might have better communication.

This is not only true in the business world but in the personal world as well. I want my family to understand my meanings. I want my clients and fellow professionals to comprehend my true intent.  I want to be understood for what I really mean to say.

So I plan to re-read those emails, postings, and communications a second time before hitting send…and to think about what someone else might “think” they mean…and then re-craft those messages if I can be more clear.  Maybe we all could do the same and “shave” a little miscommunication off our messaging.