Conflict often arises as a result of a misunderstanding caused by miscommunication. Ineffective listening may cause misinterpretation and result in breakdown in relationships, be they business or personal. The following song lyrics (writer unknown) describe the typical process of poor listening leading to misinterpretation and relationship breakdown.
Your meanings
You put your meanings in my words
Till my words don’t mean what they say
I don’t mean you hear just what you want to hear
No, you hear what you thinks I would say
And when some of your meanings hurt you
Then you get angry at me.
And I put my meaning in your bitter tears
And I hate you for hurting me
But I only wanted you to know me
To see me and hear me as I feel inside
Laughing easy, crying hard, seldom certain
Always wishing we could fly.
But you put your meanings in my words
While my meanings stumble and fall
Our lips are still moving, there is sound in the air
But I don’t think we’re talking at all.