Be On The Same Page. Agree On What "It" Is.

By Lexi Adams

Communication dictates the success of relationships, careers, grades — even lives. It is imperative to learn how to effectively communicate expectations, deadlines, and needs in every aspect of life.

To understand how serious the repercussions of poor communication can be, it helps to look at it in medical terms. Research shows that "miscommunication during patient handoff contributes to an estimated 80% of serious medical errors and, consequently, plays a key role in the estimated five million excess deaths annually from poor quality of care in low- and middle-income countries" (NIH).

Or, to put it in dollar terms: "U.S. companies collectively lose an estimated $1.2 trillion annually due to miscommunication and collaboration failures" (Apollo Technical).

Lives can be lost, money can be thrown away, companies can fail, relationships can be strained, and expectations can be missed — all because we don't focus on being clear in communication.

Be on the same page. Agree on what "it" actually is. This is what Amy Connor taught me.

Amy Connor, Founder and CEO of CMO-OnLoan, started her career at Iams as a market specialist, moved to Procter & Gamble, then to Luxottica, where she became Vice President of Marketing. She's served on multiple boards and now runs her own company.

I've known Amy for some time, but when I finally sat down to hear about her experiences and wisdom firsthand, I was blown away by her career.

When you're talking with a customer, it's important to be on the same page. Asking them questions like: How do you describe your brand? What do you say you do for work in 30 seconds? By asking intentional questions to understand the other person's perspective, you enter the conversation already understanding where they're coming from — while still bringing your own outside knowledge to fill in the gaps. From there, you can put your ideas into language they already use, which makes collaboration smoother and far more effective.

Ask good questions. Understand their perspective. Collaborate clearly. This approach works internally, externally, personally, professionally — even as a student.

When I was job-hunting during my senior year of college, Amy helped me work through who I was, who I wasn't, what areas I wanted to work in, my dream companies, and so much more. She introduced me to something called a "Networking Brief" (linked in the sources below) — a simple document that organizes all of that into one clear, easy-to-share format. I've shared mine with many people I've met since, and it gives them a holistic view of my personal vision, personality, and talents in minutes.

I have also become quick to give minirecaps throughout meetings: "To my understanding, you are expecting me to deliver … by … and send it to you via email?". Small recaps, questions that erase ambiguity and very clear definitions on deliverables have allowed me to agree on what "it" is and execute precisely.

Creating clear, digestible ways to get everyone on the same page is one of Amy's biggest strengths. Whether it is through question asking, pre-formatted documents like the Networking Brief, or learning communication styles, being able to agree on what "it" is sets you up for success.

So here's my challenge for you this week:

Where is miscommunication quietly costing you money, relationships, or time?

How could you communicate more effectively?

What creative ways could you summarize the message you're trying to convey?

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