Comments on: Clear as Mud http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2009/03/18/clear-as-mud/ Business, Marketing, Social Media Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:25:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karen Swim http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2009/03/18/clear-as-mud/comment-page-1/#comment-12067 Karen Swim Thu, 28 May 2009 13:27:01 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=629#comment-12067 Hi Richard! Communicating with programmers can be a frustrating experience! As I was reading, I was nodding my head wildly recalling situations that nearly drove me over the edge! Definitely teaches you to be very precise and clear. :-) Hi Richard! Communicating with programmers can be a frustrating experience! As I was reading, I was nodding my head wildly recalling situations that nearly drove me over the edge! Definitely teaches you to be very precise and clear. :-)

]]> By: Richard http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2009/03/18/clear-as-mud/comment-page-1/#comment-12056 Richard Wed, 27 May 2009 15:02:51 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=629#comment-12056 This communication problem is very very prominent when dealing with programmers. The programmer does not understand your explanation, but thinks he does, and you do not understand the programmers explanation, but you think you do. Particularly troubling is impatience when one or the other, during the establishment of a contract, decides he understands and ceases to pay attention to the other person's efforts to clear up confusion over what may appear to be nuance or semantics. The consequences can be costly, both in money and in trust. If you find that the other party is too glib in his/her expressions of understanding <i>find someone else!!!</i> This communication problem is very very prominent when dealing with programmers. The programmer does not understand your explanation, but thinks he does, and you do not understand the programmers explanation, but you think you do.

Particularly troubling is impatience when one or the other, during the establishment of a contract, decides he understands and ceases to pay attention to the other person’s efforts to clear up confusion over what may appear to be nuance or semantics. The consequences can be costly, both in money and in trust. If you find that the other party is too glib in his/her expressions of understanding find someone else!!!

]]> By: Karen Swim http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2009/03/18/clear-as-mud/comment-page-1/#comment-12037 Karen Swim Tue, 26 May 2009 21:36:43 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=629#comment-12037 Julie, I agree with you. I begin my own client engagements with both written engagement memos and a voice to voice interaction to avoid misunderstanding. It definitely helps to be specific. However, these errors in understanding are not limited to freelance writers but can happen in any profession even when people work together in the same department / location for the same company. It is extremely important, as you noted to repeat, clarify and check understanding not once but throughout a project. Julie, I agree with you. I begin my own client engagements with both written engagement memos and a voice to voice interaction to avoid misunderstanding. It definitely helps to be specific. However, these errors in understanding are not limited to freelance writers but can happen in any profession even when people work together in the same department / location for the same company. It is extremely important, as you noted to repeat, clarify and check understanding not once but throughout a project.

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