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What if I asked you to lie down and let me drive a loaded dump truck over you? Would you let me? How about for a million dollars? Better yet, would you jump out of an airplane without a parachute for $2 million?
You're probably responding with an emphatic "No!"
Now, what if I told you that all you had to do is lie down under an overpass, while I drove the dump truck across a bridge overhead? What if the airplane was a small two-passenger type, still parked on the runway?
"Now that's a different story!", you might say. But is it really? It's actually the same story, but without your personal assumptions putting a spin on it. And so it is in the workplace as well. Effective communication is often undermined by failing to clearly define the details in whatever situation you're dealing with.
Think about the above example for a minute. Did I say the dump truck tires were actually going to touch your body? Did I say the plane was going to be flying in the air?
Nope.
Granted, I was trying to trick you with my suggestions, but that's not necessarily the case when we misinterpret other people's ideas at work. Many times it is simply an honest misunderstanding. Innocent as it may be however, it can lead to disastrous results. Just imagine making a million dollar mistake because you didn't take the time to find out the details.
It's also crucial that you stop to consider how you present your ideas to other people. You want to be sure that you don't present them in such a way that your coworkers think they're going to get run over by a dump truck if they buy in. That wouldn't be a very persuasive way to win support, now would it?
Make sure you clearly communicate details when sharing new ideas. It may seem like a chore at first. If you stick with it, however, you'll find that it pays huge dividends. Before long you'll be known as a great communicator of ideas. Another added benefit is that when people question your ideas - they will ask for details. After all, you will have an outstanding reputation as being an open, sincere, and detail oriented communicator.