Shared meanings, shared responsibility
We often use the same words with different meanings.
We say “respect”, “professionalism”, “commitment” – but do we understand them in the same way?
A lack of shared definitions is a silent source of chaos.
What happens then?
- misunderstandings increase
- levels of responsibility become blurred
- it becomes difficult to intervene
What is a “joke” for one person may be a boundary being crossed for another.
What someone considers “directness”, someone else may perceive as a lack of respect.
Without a shared language, collective action is difficult.
Why does it matter?
In the workplace, we do not operate solely with tasks – we operate with meanings.
Decisions, reactions and evaluations are based on how we understand words and behaviours.
If definitions are unclear:
- it is harder to hold people accountable for behaviour
- inconsistent decisions become more likely
- the sense of fairness decreases