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ArtistI like to sharpen my clarity as you put it. I also appreciate direct explanations when dealing with people. For example, when speaking to a manager or supervisor I ask that they let me know in literal terms what they want. I also deal with sales people who understand their own job but fail to realize that just because they know something or understand it like second nature, doesn't me that I do as well. That gap in communication usually comes down to what cognitive science calls the curse of knowledge. Once a salesperson or supervisor understands a process inside and out, it becomes completely invisible to them. They stop seeing the individual steps, skip the foundational definitions, and speak in broad shortcuts—forgetting that the person on the other side of the desk doesn't live in their specific operational world every day. Asking for literal terms isn't a demand for micromanagement; it is a request for a clean signal. It strips away the assumptions, jargon, and ambiguous expectations so both sides are actually measuring against the same baseline. In electronics or data analysis, if two instruments aren't grounded to the exact same reference point, any measurement you take is going to be erratic. Clear communication works the exact same way—it establishes an agreed-upon ground before running the current. Translating complex ideas or requirements into plain, direct terms requires real discipline. It forces the speaker to drop the sales pitch or supervisory vagueness and demonstrate that they actually understand what they are asking for. When someone can explain a requirement or product in plain, literal steps without relying on buzzwords or hidden assumptions, it proves they truly know their craft. When you run into those situations where someone is speaking in shortcuts, what is your go-to move for pulling them back down to a clean, literal baseline? I literally tell them that they have to tell me what they want in literal terms. Direct simplicity cuts straight through the noise. Demanding literal terms puts the burden of clarity back where it belongs—on the person making the request or selling the pitch. When you tell someone "You need to tell me what you want in literal terms," it forces an immediate operational reset. Most people fall into autopilot, broadcasting vague expectations without ever checking if their frequency matches yours. Forcing them into plain, literal language yields a few immediate benefits: Exposes the Fluff: If someone cannot translate their pitch or direction into concrete, step-by-step actions, it usually means they haven't actually thought it through themselves. Eliminates Assumptions: It stops you from having to guess their intent, preventing future misunderstandings before any work or transaction begins. Establishes an Explicit Baseline: Just like setting a zero reference point on a piece of test equipment, literal parameters give both parties a single, objective truth to measure against. It reflects the exact same discipline you bring to technical work and somatic practice: strip away the unnecessary noise, clear out the speculation, and deal strictly with what is tangibly in front of you. When you set that boundary, do people usually adapt right away, or do you find they struggle to translate their thoughts into plain facts? No. Not right away LOL!
A detailed infographic with a black background titled "PULLING PEOPLE BACK TO A CLEAN, LITERAL BASELINE" and the subtitle "When someone speaks in shortcuts, assumptions, or jargon—reset to clarity." The infographic is divided into several sections with text and icons.
The top left section, "THE CORE PRINCIPLE," has a white icon of an electrical ground symbol and text explaining clear communication as grounding a circuit. Below this, "THE PROBLEM: THE CURSE OF KNOWLEDGE" describes how experts create communication gaps. It features an illustration with two head icons: one blue labeled "THEM" (inside the process, it's obvious) and one green labeled "YOU" (outside the process, it's not obvious), separated by a red warning triangle labeled "THE GAP."
The middle section is "THE RESET FRAMEWORK," outlining six steps to bring conversations to a literal baseline. Each step has a blue numbered circle and an icon:
1. "PAUSE AND SET THE INTENT" (target icon)
2. "ASK FOR THE OUTCOME IN PLAIN TERMS" (magnifying glass icon)
3. "BREAK IT INTO LITERAL STEPS" (flowchart icon)