“The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
— George Bernard Shaw
Simplified Meaning:
People often think they've made themselves clear when talking to others, but that's not always true. For example, imagine a manager who tells their team to "work harder" without specifying what tasks need improvement. The employees might think they understand and start working more hours, but their focus might be on the wrong tasks. Later, the manager feels frustrated because nothing has changed the way they expected. This happens because we assume the other person knows exactly what we mean when they might have a very different understanding. To avoid this, it’s important to be specific and ask questions to make sure everyone is on the same page. When giving instructions, it’s helpful to get feedback or ask people to repeat back what they understood. This way, you can catch any misunderstandings early and ensure real communication has happened.
