Another communication principle is to anticipate the response of the hearer and try to word your communication in a way that they will understand.

Dr. Sam Sasser once received this note following a meeting: “Pastor, knowing you cannot eat sugar, I am sending this box of Christmas candy to your wife and nuts to you.” Now, the sender didn’t mean to say: ‘Nuts to you!’, but that’s how it came across. Anticipating how they will receive it is part of communication.

Another minister forgot the names of the couple he was soon going to marry, so he said from the pulpit, “Will those wishing to be united in holy matrimony please come forward after the service.” After the service, thirteen old maids came forward.

How we word things is important to the hearer. Do you have another example of such miscommunication?

Tags: communication, humor