Problematic Communication is something we all experience.

Because we have been communicating since we were babies, much of our communication is habitual, and therefore unconscious.

Misunderstandings occur frequently. What one person means by what they say and what another understands from that are often different. Some people say things when they are not clear, so there is little chance of another understanding them. When a message is delivered from one person to a group, the chances are that different members of the group will interpret the same message differently. The reason for this, is we use our own previous experiences, combined with our beliefs and attitudes, to understand. Our brains have developed techniques to save energy and work (most of the time), such as making assumptions, having expectations, jumping to conclusions, etc. These work in some circumstances, and in others cause problems.

We also have a highly sensitive emotional response, linked to our survival system, and usually quicker to sense something than our intellectual system. People can react in an emotional way, which adds a whole layer of problems in the communication.

There is a deep correlation between the quality of a relationship, and the quality of the communication in that relationship. When the communication has negatively impacted the relationship, the poor relationship begins to have a negative impact on the communication and creates a downward spiral.

In organisations, many people report that they feel either under communicated with, or over communicated with. Email overload is a recognised problem that has a serious impact on effectiveness. We also hear that the communication between people and their immediate manager is problematic (and is a major reason people leave a job).

A key impact of problematic communication is that it negatively effects our state, and our ability to do our best work.

If you wish to move beyond Problematic Communication, the first step is to raise awareness of it. Our Communication Needs Analysis provides evidence based feedback for you to discover the reality of your communication. Contact us now to arrange this free service.