Katherine Hampsten: How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it) - Katherine Hampsten

How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it) - Katherine Hampsten

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-avoid-miscommunication-katherine-hampsten

Have you ever talked with a friend about a problem, only to realize that he just doesn’t seem to grasp why the issue is so important to you? Have you ever presented an idea to a group, and it’s met with utter confusion? What’s going on here? Katherine Hampsten describes why miscommunication occurs so frequently, and how we can minimize frustration while expressing ourselves better. 

Lesson by Katherine Hampsten, animation by Andrew Foerster.

Miscommunication can spark everything from daily frustration to multimillion-dollar disasters, even when people speak the same language in the same room. Human communication is far more complex than simply tossing a message back and forth; each person shapes meaning based on their own experiences and filters. Like a lump of clay passed between hands, messages are continually reshaped by biases, distractions, and emotions. Simple habits, like active listening and checking assumptions, can help people truly connect and build shared understanding.