These are 3 types of tricks our brains play in communication.
5 guys
Using the same words, yet talking of (or at least thinking of) different things.
If you don’t ask to clarify… things can (will) go sideways.
Spend less time with your kids
Hearing something weird and just assuming it is what you think you heard. That can also bring weird moments if you don’t dive deeper into what’s that you just heard.
It could be “Spend less time with your kids“… or “Spend less time with dickheads“.
The hot dogs are gone
You’re pre-framed into looking for that connection, so you’ll hear that. And if that confirms what you’re thinking ahead, your position comes more as defensive. And things will go south (eventually).
Here’s the thing
Business is not about winning or losing (in fact, you can’t because business itself has no end point, no finish line). It’s about helping the ones you can.
The best chances you can have are when you communicate clearly. When you get to reflect and look for clarity. When you can articulate what you and the others think.
Once you have that, you don’t need to convince.
And when you don’t try to convince, but to understand, you’ll have the upper hand.
That, my friend, will make you stand out.