7 Times?

Have you ever heard someone say that;

“A person hearing your message needs to hear your message seven times before they really hear what you are saying.”

I’m not sure that is enough. How about seven more times. And then after that, maybe another seven times. I have found that leaders are overly concerned with overcommunicating. It’s difficult for leaders to overcommunicate.

Ask yourself, how often has someone ever ‘overcommunicated’ to you?

Deterioration?

An unfortunate fact is that all messages that are communicated begin deteriorating as soon as the message is received. External and internal factors begin eating away as the message as soon as it is received.

Test It Now

Go ask someone who you recently had a conversation with. Ask them to tell you exactly what you just said. Being the human that I am, my wife will sometimes (and rightfully) ask me what she just said. Unless I am giving my full attention, I get distracted easily and I only absorb a portion of just about everything I hear. The more distracted I am, the less I actually comprehend anything that is communicated to me.

Why Does Communication Deteriorate?

People put their interpretation on what they hear and add words that they would use.

When someone hears a message multiple times, each time the person receiving the message is in a different place. People are in flux and are always in a different place mentally and relationally. They have different knowledge and experiences. They have had new things happen in their life both personally and professionally that cause them to hear the message differently the next time. These factors mixed in with the message, cause people to hear the message a little differently each time they hear it.

Examples of Hearing It Again

How many times have you heard the same thing again only to hear it differently each time you hear it. This happens to me when I re-read a book I have read before or watch a movie again or hear the same concept I have already heard at a training program.

Each time I hear a message I hear it differently. The message means something different to me the next time. A lot has happened between the last time and the next time I hear the same message.

Communicating To A Large Department

Years ago, I was working with a leader of a large department of more than 500 people. He would go to large employee meetings and communicate the direction of the organization, how the organization was going to get there, and even what the direction will do for the organization and employees.

His frustration came in his follow-up with employees who attended the meetings. He found that people struggled with accurately explaining what they heard him say at the meeting. Everyone would have their own interpretation of what they heard at the meeting. He asked me, “What do I need to do to be a more effective communicator?”

The Secret Ingredient for Effective Communication

Well, it’s not really so secret. The secret (simple) ingredient is to say it again. Say it over and over again.

My Challenge to You

What message have you recently communicated that maybe has not been completely received? Communicate the same message again. Ask those who heard your message, to repeat back to you the message that they heard. Once they can do that, wait a few days or a week then go back and ask them again. Did they retain your message after time has lapsed? If not, communicate again. Rinse and repeat.

What are your stories?

• When have you felt that you have ‘overcommunicated’?
• Have you had a recent frustration (or maybe a current frustration) when you feel you have overcommunicated but realize that you need to communicate again?