A Simple Solution to Fix Workplace Miscommunication | Melissa M. Mikus | TED (Level 1)

Miscommunication at work causes big problems. One time, a manager sent a message to her team. The message was just one word: 'Sure.' She meant 'Yes, this is great.' But her team thought she meant 'It’s just okay.' They worked all night to make a new presentation. The next day, the manager was surprised. This small mistake wasted many hours. Many people have these problems. In fact, 86% of workers say bad communication causes failures at work. And US businesses lose $1.2 trillion every year because of it. There is a simple solution. You can tell people how you like to communicate. You can make a short 'communication style tag.' For example: 'I like morning meetings and need information before meetings.' Or 'I prefer emails for careful answers.' When we share our styles, we work better and build trust.