The Communication Gap

A lot of life's problems come from assuming others know what we know. We're often shocked by their actions or decisions because, with the same info, they should think like us. But here's the secret: people usually don't know what's in your head, what you know, or how you feel.

Misreading Signals

We often think we've communicated something between the lines. But most of the time, people miss these clues. They don't read the information we think we've shared.

So, I approach life assuming people don't know what I know, feel, want, or think. It's my job to reveal these things to them. And it's also my job to reveal it often enough to ensure that people understand that what I've shared was really important to me. Because, people forget, and that's okay, so they need reminders too.

A Personal Story

Back when I worked at an agency and a big organization, I always shared my work and excitement with my bosses. I was transparent about what I was doing and why it was good. This made them excited too and they thought I was very hardworking—maybe even more than others. But the only difference between me and my colleagues was that I told my boss what I was doing. I didn't assume they'd just see it happen. I wasn't smarter or more hardworking. I just communicated more what I did.

In Relationships Too

The same goes for any relationship. If you're grumpy, tell people you're grumpy; most can't read the cues. If you're tired, let them know so they understand it's tiredness, not grumpiness. If you're excited, share that too; they might mistake your excitement for anxiety when you're just in the zone.

Always remember: people don't know until you tell them.