How many times have you seen two people speak in what seems to you like a secret code that only they understand?
During my military service I collaborated very closely with another officer. We were so close we got a point that he could ask me “Did you talk to mister guy about the thing?” and I knew exactly what he was talking about. No, we did not share a brain, we just shared knowledge, and a language. It made our lives easy.
It’s clear that establishing a common language in a team and organization is important (one out of 4 key communication elements I establish in my work), but how?
1. Training - Ensure everyone understands and agrees on the meanings of critical terms used in your industry or project.
2. Experiences- the more people experience together, the more reference points they share, which can turn into a common language. You might just start using sayings like- “It’s just like last time,” or “remember that time we…” to explain things (ever played “Taboo”? that’s the key to win the game 😊)
3. If you don’t understand something – ask; If you use a term that not everyone might know- ask if you need to clarify. By doing this we make sure we all speak the same language and establish it for the future.
4. In conversation (especially before arguing), ask the person in front of you “when you say X, what do you mean?”, just to make sure you speak the same language and talk about the exact same thing (trust me, this will save time, energy, and A LOT of misunderstandings).
5. Be patient when explanation is needed- if you do not explain things well, the terms you are explaining might be “lost in translation.”
A shared language can be a great shortcut for effective communication, simplified processes and of course, minimize misunderstandings.
How do you improve your communication?
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