On a chilly winter morning, a wife texts her husband:
“Windows frozen, won’t open.”

He replies:
“Try gently pouring lukewarm water over it, then tap around the edges with a hammer.”

Ten minutes later, she texts back:
“Computer is really messed up now.”

This funny exchange illustrates how easily we can assume we’re on the same page when communicating, only to realize we were working from entirely different information or viewpoints. Assumptions are part of running a business too—like predicting market responses or customer needs—but they can backfire when left unchecked or unexplored.

Miscommunication Costs Companies

According to a Holmes Report, miscommunication costs businesses an estimated $37 billion annually in lost productivity, errors, and project failures.

This figure underscores the financial impact that assumptions and unclear communication can have on organizations, highlighting the importance of investing in clearer, more intentional communication strategies.

The Solutions

In this case, a simple question—like, “You mean the car windows?”—could have transformed the outcome. As you may know, human wiring influences how people process information and how much information they provide. For example, someone with a lower need for certainty/information may provide only partial information, leaving those with a higher need for certainty/information to interpret or fill in the gaps. This can lead to misunderstandings, rework, or customer issues.

The next time you think you understand someone, take a moment to ask a clarifying question or restate what you think they meant. It’s a small step that can prevent big misunderstandings.

Invitation

If you’re ready to take action in leveling up your company’s leadership and communication skills, join us for our Master Class:

Wired to Win 101: How Are You Hardwired? on Friday, December 13, 2024. Early registration happening now at https://www.excellerateassociates.com/wired-to-win-101/

At this week’s Wake Up Profitable Boot Camp, human wiring emerged as a crucial tool for aligning team members with their ideal roles. Business owners quickly realized that when individuals operate in sync with their natural wiring, both productivity and job satisfaction dramatically increase—an especially vital insight for scaling a business.

We began by helping them understand their own human wiring and how it influences their leadership style as well as every system in their business. By gaining this awareness, these business leaders discovered they could:

• Reduce costs by hiring the right person for the right role from the start;
• Increase retention by identifying the unique needs of each person and crafting targeted professional and personal development plans;
• Instantly recognize whether their workforce is energized or de-energized.

When scaling a business, it’s equally critical to understand how people need to be onboarded, trained, and given feedback to thrive. Several years ago, we coached a client from a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company on how to onboard their newest customer. By customizing the training to fit the customer’s human wiring, they were able to provide a more tailored onboarding experience. The result? The customer praised the simplicity and ease of using the software.

By leveraging human wiring, businesses can foster a more harmonious and productive workforce, driving long-term profitability, sustainable growth, and more effective workforce development.

Invitation

Want to level up your leadership and knowledge about human wiring, register today, for the Wired to Win 101: How Are You Hardwired on Friday, December 13, 2024.