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To be a really successful communicator, you need to have a contextual framework for your communications. What does that mean? Well, it's a lot simpler than it probably sounds.
It's all about setting boundaries.
It is rare, when broaching a new subject with someone, to find that a well established context already exists. It is more than common or shared experiences between you and the person you are communicating with. While a common ground will be helpful in establishing these boundaries, the two are not the same thing.
The "context" refers to the "area" or subject being discussed. The "framework" is constructed of all of the additional elements such as valid questions, answers, etc. and defines the limits of the discourse.
Here's an example.
Two people are talking about "Safety on the Job", and they are limiting the conversation to "safe practices". One might say to the other, "Job Hazard Analyses are fair game here, but Safety Awareness is not, because that does not pertain to a practice, but rather a state of mind."
This example may seem a bit trivial at first glance. However, it is valid because a Job Hazard Analysis actually defines and provides instruction for performing specific tasks safely on the job. Therefore it pertains to "safe practices".
Safety Awareness, on the other hand, while necessary to accomplish the writing of a JHA, is not automatically necessary for the end user (or operator) to execute the safe practices described therein. An operator can be someone who is not "Safety Aware", and yet safely perform a task by simply following the procedural steps laid out in the JHA.
Clear as mud, eh? Read it a second time to be sure it makes sense. I did!
What often happens is that these boundaries are verbally established on the fly during the course of a debate or discussion. In workplace communications, however, it can be useful for you to mentally establish these boundaries ahead of time in your own mind.
If you know you are going to be facilitating or attending a brainstorming session on a particular topic, take the time to build a contextual framework for communicating within. In so doing, you can streamline problem solving and reduce inefficiency in your workplace communications.