Chapter 40
Speaking Truth vs. Speaking Fast
1.I thank you for writing to me so often; for you are revealing your real self to me in the only way you can. I never receive a letter from you without being in your company forthwith. If the pictures of our absent friends are pleasing to us, though they only refresh the memory and lighten our longing by a solace that is unreal and unsubstantial, how much more pleasant is a letter, which brings us real traces, real evidences, of an absent friend! For that which is sweetest when we meet face to face is afforded by the…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Communication Speed Test
Think of something you need to explain to someone this week - a work process, a family rule, or instructions for a task. First, write out how you would normally explain it. Then rewrite it as if you're talking to someone who's tired, distracted, or new to the topic. Notice what changes when you prioritise their understanding over your efficiency.
Consider:
- •Are you including pauses for questions or confusion?
- •What assumptions are you making about what they already know?
- •How would you know if they actually understood versus just nodding along?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone explained something to you too quickly and you were left confused but afraid to ask questions. How did that make you feel, and what would have helped?
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