If the Shoe Fits: How do You Communicate?
by Miki SaxonA Friday series exploring Startups and the people who make them go. Read all If the Shoe Fits posts here
If you are looking for the worst advice on which to build your company culture, be sure to add this piece of un-wisdom from Ashok Kushwaha (whoever that may be).
“I am responsible for what I say, not for what you understand.”
The first half of the sentence is true, you are responsible for what you say, as well as the way you say it.
It’s the second half that will royally screw you up and contribute to your company’s destruction.
It is your responsibility to be sure you are understood, whether it’s working with your team or explaining your vision and market to investors.
And it’s not just when you’re the boss.
The same holds true as a friend, volunteer, parent or the grown child to your parents.
In fact, the second part relegates the whole to one of the stupidest sentences I’ve heard/read in my lifetime.
However, it does fit the current attitude that eschews personal responsibility and believes that any word/action/behavior is justified/excused as long as there’s a reason.
That said, the possibility of success should be reason enough to make sure that whoever your audience is has a clear understanding of what you mean, since not understanding provides a clear path to failure.
Image credit: HikingArtist
