Are you guilty of assuming everyone thinks the same way that you do? Have you been frustrated to find out that they don't? It's easy to fall into that trap. If things start to go off the rails, try starting a conversation with this simple phrase: "My expectation is ______, and my observation is ______." The disconnect between expectation and observation almost always stems from a breakdown in communication. This can be especially prevalent in professional partnerships. If you're the client, you've been living and breathing your project for what seems like forever. Perhaps it's been around so long that its goals have morphed over time, through numerous discussions, and changed into something different from the original brief. And those of you who partner with and service clients know that sometimes projects drift away from your first proposal and scope of work. You can get so wrapped up in the job that you forget where you started. Shifts happen. Things change. And that's okay. Just be sure to speak up and ask for clarification on goals, objectives, and expectations. #communication #leadership …see more