Say what you mean and mean what you say!

How often are you or your words misinterpreted? Do you even know? Would someone tell you? Or would you go on with life thinking everything is just honky dory. Only to find out later things were not just fine, you only thought they were.

I attended a Toastmasters Leadership Institute training session and was introduced to a "word exercise". This was the first-time I ever heard this done, or given any thought to how a simple phrase could possibly be misinterpreted. It never dawned on me that someone might take to mean what I said differently than I meant it.

Read this sentence to yourself: "I never said I thought your idea was bad."

Fairy straightforward, right. How did this sound to you? Is this something you may have even said to someone? I know I've said this or something very similar to someone.

Let's see how many different ways this can be interpreted. Read each sentence below putting emphasis on the "bolded" word below.

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

"I never said I thought your idea was bad."

Interesting right? Yeah that was the same reaction I had. It never occurred to me that someone might see or hear what I say in a different context than they way I mean it.

That explains a lot. Today, we are constantly texting or emailing people. It's not always your fault if you or what you say gets taken the wrong way. It depends on the way it gets interpreted by the recipient.

So even if you say what you mean and mean what you say it might still be taken differently.

Enjoy!

Semper Fi,
Gunny Mike
https://capecodgunny.com

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