LME 062 – Why Misunderstandings Happen – And How to Avoid Them as a Leader
Today, we’re talking about something that causes unnecessary frustration, demotivation, and conflict in almost every company: misunderstandings in communication.
We’ll unpack:
- Why they happen so often – even when you think you’ve been crystal clear.
- How your intentions and your team’s interpretations can drift apart.
- And what you can do to prevent misunderstandings in your daily leadership.
Let’s dive in.
You told your employee exactly what to do.
They nodded.
A week later… things went wrong.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the hard truth:
Just because you said it doesn’t mean it was understood the way you intended.
One of the biggest leadership mistakes is assuming that “saying something clearly” equals “being understood clearly.”
But communication isn’t about what you say. It’s about what the other person hears and understands.
Let me give you a quick story.
A CEO I worked with once told his assistant:
“Let’s not do anything with this report for now.”
She thought:
“Okay, I’ll just leave it as is.”
He meant: Don’t share it with anyone until I’ve reviewed it again.
You can guess what happened. She shared the report and he was furious.
Neither of them had bad intentions. But the result? Frustration, blame, and extra work.
All because of assumed clarity.
The Communication Loop
To avoid misunderstandings, you need to understand the communication loop. It has four steps:
- You think something.
- You say or write it using your own words, assumptions, and tone.
- The other person hears or reads it filtered through their own experiences, emotions, and interpretations.
- They react based on what they understood, not what you meant.
That’s a lot of room for error.
So, how do you close the gap?
By taking responsibility – not just for what you say, but for what the other person understands.
As a leader, that’s your job.
The Power of Feedback Questions
Here’s one of the simplest but most powerful techniques to avoid misunderstandings:
Ask the other person to summarize what they understood.
Not in a testing way. But in a supportive, open way.
For example:
“Just to make sure I explained it clearly – how do you plan to approach this now?”
Or:
“Can you walk me through what your next steps would be, so we’re on the same page?”
This one move can save hours of rework, frustration, and blame.
It may feel awkward at first. But the more you do it, the more natural and appreciated it becomes.
Because your team wants clarity. They want to succeed. But they also don’t want to feel stupid by asking questions.
So make it easy for them.
Written vs. Verbal: Know the Risks
Another common cause of misunderstanding is the wrong communication medium.
If something is emotional, sensitive, or complex: Don’t write an email.
Speak in person. Or at least pick up the phone or jump on a quick video call.
Written messages lack tone. They lack body language.
And they’re easily misinterpreted.
Also: never give constructive criticism by email or chat.
That’s leadership suicide.
Use the right channel. Make things easy to understand.
My Bonus Tips to Avoid Misunderstandings
Let me wrap this up with a few practical leadership tips:
- Use simple language.
No business buzzwords. Just plain, everyday words. - Check for understanding, don’t assume it.
Ask for feedback, paraphrasing, and next steps. - Be aware of emotions: yours and theirs.
A stressed person won’t interpret things rationally. - Repeat key points.
Not like a robot but reinforce what matters most. - Listen actively.
The more you truly listen, the fewer misunderstandings you’ll cause.
So… next time you’re frustrated that someone “just didn’t get it” – take a moment to reflect.
Did they misunderstand you?
Or did you overestimate your clarity?
Because great leadership means not just talking but being truly understood.
And here’s the good news: You can learn these skills.
In fact, we go deep into exactly this kind of communication clarity in my brand-new Leadership Crash Course.
It’s a practical, step-by-step video course for first-time managers and business owners who want to lead with confidence and get things done without constant micromanagement or misunderstandings.
