One of the challenges of communication is when people respond to your question with a tangential thought or another question. It’s a reply, but it isn’t an answer. Examples include:
- Q: Are you going to the meeting? Reply: Can you believe there is another meeting about this project?
- Q: Where do you want to go to dinner? Reply: I had a big lunch.
- Q: Can I consider this report finalized and send it to the boss? Reply: I heard she is getting ready to go out of town.
- Q: Do you want me to make reservations at 5 pm or 7 pm? Reply: It’s a half-hour from where we’ll be.
- Q: Are you able to help me with this task? Reply: The new assistant starts next week.
These types of responses do nothing to facilitate progress or move the conversation forward. What does the reply even mean? It certainly isn’t a definitive response to what you asked.
If you pay attention, I suspect you will hear many non-answers to your queries. Be conscious that you aren’t hearing them come from your own lips.
