We’ve all experienced miscommunication at some point in our lives.

I’m sure you, like me, can think of more than a few times when you’ve said something and it was taken the wrong way.

Or maybe you had a parent that, like mine, would frequently remind you that it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.

In neuro-linguistic programming that premise goes even further with the second key assumption of NLP which states:

“The meaning of communication is the response you get.”

And yes, this is one of those times you should take the statement literally.

It’s an obvious truth, but it’s often overlooked, or maybe it’s our ego that gets in our way.

We have to constantly be asking ourselves if the way we’re communicating is generating/eliciting the desired response.

If asking the customer a question doesn’t get you the answer, but not asking it does, then not asking is the way to go. However if asking that question with another customer gets you the answer, but not asking doesn’t then the situation is reversed.

The meaning of communication is the response you get.

If hugging someone who’s angry and upset calms them down and that’s what you were trying to do, then a hug is the right form of communication in that instance. However if the hug just makes the person more angry or more upset than a hug is the wrong form of communication. Sorry huggers!

The meaning of communication is the response you get.

If yelling and screaming get’s someone to do what you want then, yes in select instances that might be the right form of communication. If however, that person ends up hating your guts and all you were trying to do was inspire them to reach their full potential so they’d see you as someone they could look up to, then you may want to rethink your communication strategy.

The meaning of communication is the response you get.

The fact is, we must continually ask ourselves if the way we’re communicating is eliciting the desired response.

If it’s not, then it’s our job to change and adapt our communication until we find a way that will get the response we want.

After all, the meaning of communication is the response you get.

Death - Before - Dishonor

To your success,

Nate

​P.S. If you’d like to share your reflections with me, feel free to email me at reflections@mindvaultllc.com as I’ll be happy to hear your thoughts. This email goes directly to me and is reserved only for those who read these Reflections.