Following Ruth’s comments on yesterday’s blog I thought that I’d look at some more comedy clips and examine the lessons they offer in communication.  This gem from The Two Ronnies is fabulous viewing, but what does it teach us?

The reason this is so funny is that the sounds of the words is identical in both sets of words, so “fork handles” sounds very similar to “four candles”.  You need context to help you understand which meaning is right.  Successful communication lies in checking that we are sharing the same context and checking our assumptions.  You may feel that you know what they are talking about, but do you really?  Take a little time to question them and check your understanding.  It not only reduces frustration and potentially costly errors but also makes the person feel that you are listening and care.