The Power of a Single Word: How to Avoid Communication Failures 

I’ve been there before – sending an email without fully thinking about the implications of my words. It’s a common mistake that many of us make, but it’s one that can have serious consequences for our relationships with our friends, family members, and colleagues. 
 
In my case, it was the word “obviously” that did the damage. I was responding to an email from a teammate who had answered a question I had asked. I could have responded in several different ways, but instead, I chose to use a word that could easily be interpreted as belittling or condescending —because it was.
 
The truth is this kind of behavior is often rooted in deep-seated beliefs and scripts that we’ve learned from our environment. In my case, I’ve been aware of my own scripts for years, but sometimes they slip through unnoticed. 
 
So, how can we prevent these kinds of communication failures? One solution is to increase our awareness of our own behavior. By raising our “antennae” and being more conscious of our actions, we can catch ourselves before we make a mistake. We call that mindfulness.

Another solution is to put more space between stimulus and response. By counting to ten before responding to an email or having a face-to-face conversation, we can give ourselves time to think about our words and actions. 

In this case, I failed to heed these preventative measures, and I ended up sending an email that I shouldn’t have. But the good news is, there’s always an opportunity to make things right. I immediately sent a follow-up email to clarify my intentions and hopefully soften the blow of my original message. 
 
At the end of the day, we all make mistakes. But, to use a bowling analogy, it’s not just the strikes that matter in life – it’s the spares too. By being more aware of our own behavior and taking steps to prevent communication failures, we can build stronger, more positive relationships with our colleagues.