The manager left the meeting feeling good.
Clear expectations. Honest feedback. Productive conversation.
The employee left the meeting unsure what had just happened.
Were they in trouble? Was this a warning? What exactly was expected now?
Neither person is describing the same conversation.
But both were in the same room.
The manager intended to be clear.
The employee experienced ambiguity.
Intentions don’t determine impact.
The experience of the other person does.
Most communication breakdowns don’t happen because someone stopped caring.
They happen because someone assumed the caring was visible.
It usually isn’t.
Until you check.