This week I failed to understand a work assignment and a personal assignment.

“We need you to write a past performance narrative based on the provided historic record that will be judged on three factors”. I wrote an executive summary that says why we should be selected as the contractor for this solicitation.

My wife told me to make sure our Company provides her HSA allocation as an elective from her pay. I increased her salary which was basically the opposite of what she asked.

Both of these mistakes cost me our most precious thing, time and not making my wife angry. A non-angry wife is pretty much just as important.

So what can improve on? Active listening is something I have always struggled with. Through my life experiences and education I have learned communication is the ability have the receiver understand the message. Communication is not the ability to speak and be heard. The sender must listen to the receiver’s responses. If the receiver is not able to demonstrate understanding a good way to help them understand your message is to ask different questions to stimulate the receivers’ comprehension.

I believe I understand how to effectively communicate, so why was I not able to receive the message? Why was I not able to realize I was not clear on what the sender was sending in that moment?

The first question relates to process. In retrospect, I did not repeat back what the sender wanted. I failed to take notes to refer back to when doing the assignment. My ego got it the way. I keep thinking, I to smart and experienced to not understand what I construe as a simple task.

One of the very first things I learned as a leader in the military was to always have a pencil and paper to take notes. Writing things down always holds true. A person cannot go wrong concentrating by note taking. I thought I had learned very early to be humble. These mistakes are a good reminder to reinforce humility in every situation.

I hope this message is understandable and valuable as it is to me writing it down. I like this image below provided by Lyondellbasell. PMP 101.