How good are your interpretation skills?

While you might not consider yourself to be an interpreter, you are.

As you read this, your brain is scrambling to make meaning, to interpret the words you’re reading.

Fortunately for you and me, the words I’ve written so far are fairly straightforward and leave very little room for misinterpretation.

But that’s not always the case.

What do you think of when you read the following words?

Tolerate.

Manipulate.

Love.

Hate.

These are just a few words that by themselves carry no weight, but when put into context, they can elicit strong emotions.

But whose context?

For example, let’s take the word manipulate.

What did you think of when you read it?

I’m almost certain it wasn’t the following definition.

To treat or operate with or as if with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner.

This is the first definition of the word manipulate in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

One of the major causes of miscommunication is misinterpretation. A person hears someone say something, and they contextualize it based on their personal experience and background. And instead of seeking clarification, they respond based on what they think the person is saying.

Now there’s really no way to avoid the initial misinterpretation because your brain is lazy, just like everyone else’s, so to conserve energy, it finds the definition that it most commonly uses. But, if you want to eliminate or reduce misinterpretation, then it’s your job to override your brain and seek clarification.

So, the next time you find yourself in a situation where you hear someone say, ‘that’s not what I meant.’ Pause for a moment and ask them to restate or clarify what they said. Not only might this lead to less conflict in your life, but the next time you’re misinterpreted, they might do the same for you too.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please share it with one person you love.