When Your Meaning Doesn’t Land

When someone misunderstands us, adding more words can feel like the obvious fix. But the gap might be in the example, the context, or an assumption we thought we shared.

A useful first step may be to ask what they heard—not to test them, but to find where the meanings separated. Then you can decide whether to clarify, ask a question, or pause and listen.

What helps you tell when a conversation needs a clearer explanation—and when it needs a better question?