I thought you knew what I meant

Original post:  Sep 1, 2015

I'm sure it's happened to all of us. We are part of an important project with tight deadlines. During one of the sessions, there seems to be a disagreement. The team has a tough time because some of the team members interpreted something differently. The team leader is exasperated and tries to explain again for the umpteenth time exactly what was intended. Or at least tries to....

When we plan things out in our heads, it all works perfectly. Everyone understands exactly what they are supposed to do and when they are supposed to do it. They willingly accept a shared definition of the major objectives and milestones. The team has full knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the project. They are well versed in the history and nuance of how the project came to be and what it will accomplish when it is all over.

In reality, nothing works out quite exactly that way. We are often pressed for time--trying to condense six months of work into six weeks or less. Our projects are just one of the dozens on our team members' plates. It's often difficult enough just finding a common time for everyone to meet while juggling all of the calendars and deadlines that already exist. Whether there is a project manager or not, there can often be disputes (stated or unstated) over what the key objective really is and when it will be done. Some people might have some history with the project, but it often is new territory for many of the team members.

If your project is like many of the ones that I work on, you'll find that communication is not easy. While it might seem that it is one of the most important pieces of any successful project, it is surprisingly underrated. Perhaps it is because good communication is not only time-consuming, it is also quite challenging even for skilled personnel.

As you continue on with your current portfolio or move on to other tasks, it would be wise to see how you can help improve the communication in whatever you are working on. You may be surprised at the gap between what you think everyone understands and what they really do!