Directional Languages

Anita and I have our own language when it comes to giving directions while driving.

When Anita says, “turn right,” I'll promptly turn left. Almost every time. Meanwhile, when I announce that “We need to head north,” she will ask: “Which way is that?”

Apparently, we have complementary directional abilities. I can't tell my left from my right, but I have strong spatial awareness and can almost always point north. Anita can give clear instructions with the confidence of someone who absolutely knows where she's going, but she has no idea which way north is.

Our solution? We acknowledge these shortcomings and turn ourselves into living directional coordinates. Now Anita says “take an Anita” when she needs me to turn toward her side, and “take a Rachel” when we need to turn toward mine. Problem solved.
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In our work at Reach Partners, we’ve learned that client projects also require translation – or a new collective language. After all, communication is more than finding the right words; it’s about making sure everybody understands where we’re heading.

Sometimes that means we need to identifying messages for stakeholders who have differing needs. Sometimes that means we help clients articulate what they want. They know they need to get somewhere, but they need help communicating about the exact route or even the destination.

Just like we did with our directional challenge, we find solutions for our clients through discovery and adaptation. What do our clients actually need? How do we translate their vision into actionable steps? How can we help vendors and team members adjust their communication style to meet clients or other teammates where they are?

Anita is attuned to recognizing when people need to develop their own "languages" or systems. We've learned communication breakdowns are opportunities for discovery and that personalized solutions beat standardized approaches. Ultimately, we want to make sure we understand each other and arrive to our destination together.

Questions Worth Asking
As leaders and partners, we ask ourselves:

• What terms or descriptions are not understood by [different stakeholders]?
• Where are the repeated miscommunications that could use a creative workaround?
• How might you adapt your communication style to meet your colleagues, clients, or partners where they are?

Sometimes the best partnerships aren't about speaking the same language—they're about creating new ones together. And we believe the best solutions come from embracing our differences and finding creative ways to bridge communication gaps.
 
– Rachel