The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place, according to George Bernard Shaw.

In this episode, Michel shares that sometimes you think you've communicated your point, but the message has not been received or understood, the meaning has not been transferred because what you said is not what was received. Communication requires us to exchange information and meaning through a common system.

The challenge with a common system is that we all have different stories about the world. We all have different backgrounds. We all take in different information and we interpret the information in our own unique ways according to the book, "Difficult Conversations." She shares her own personal story that highlights how this is a challenge for communication.

One key skill that helps us to develop this common system of exchanging meaning is perspective taking.

This is using alternative points of view. Entertaining, incorporating, inviting different perspectives. A perspective is a lens. It's a frame. If it is an angle. It's a way of seeing. Our thoughts are limited by that frame, by our lenses. It's very important for us to always be thinking about strategies to broaden our thinking, to explore multiple ways of seeing.

Perspective taken is a skill and it can be learned. Michel provides many tips to develop perspective taking.  

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