Two recent workplace experiences reminded me that we often hear what we expect to hear. A colleague asked a relationship banker for information about a tower company. The responding colleague heard and provided information on a towel company. The response was 100% correct for the question heard, but not responsive at all to the question actually asked.
On the heels of this situation, another colleague asked about the toffee in the break room (home made and apparently delicious) and the respondent provided a response about the coffee.
Both incidents provided laughter therapy for those involved. And a reminder, that when accuracy is important, we need to verify that what we heard is actually what was said. Asking the question a different way can often validate the information or surface the miscommunication.
This tactic can also work well when communicating with friends and family members who don't hear well and those who don't enunciate.
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