What does it mean to be understood?

People heard you? As in “I hear you.” But what does that really mean? Not much, actually. They heard you speak — excellent. But did they understand you? Did they grasp what you meant, really listen, feel drawn in? Did you tell a story that connected — that made them sense the emotion, the knowledge, the wit, the passion, the complexity behind your words?

If not, you just missed an opportunity to connect. And lost time — yours and theirs.

We speak all the time. But we don’t always communicate. And we’re even less often understood.

Between partners, friends, parents and children, managers and teams, executives and employees, salespeople and customers.