Clarify what we mean to say

Why is clarification important? What happens when we assume the wrong meaning of a word or a statement? Can a misunderstanding lead to concern or get us side tracked from focusing on our goals?

Bill Clinton famously said "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. " Where his point was the tense of the word  'is' could mean happening 'at this moment', is not same meaning as was something happening 'several years ago'. These types of misunderstanding happen more often then we think.

When it come to communication words have the meaning we give them, so it all depends on your definition. This is why in an IT project we can have a data definition library but even then those definitions are open to interpretation. Often the common everyday words can cause confusion, if not defined. Here's a couple of examples based on my own experience.
Example 1:
Jack: Are you using the your server access.
Jill: Yes.
Jack:  Are you using the your server access 'Today'.
Jill: No.
In Example 1, Jack wants to use Jill's Server access to do some work right now, however, Jack never says that, so Jill thinks Jack is trying to get ride unused access to save on licenses. Difference being: can I 'keep' the access VS can I 'borrow' the access. Yes, this conversation actually happened:)

Example 2:
Jill: We can not use this tool because its not enterprise.
Jack: What's your definition of enterprise?
Jill: The tool doesn't say its enterprise.
Jack:  I could contact the tool's creator and request the word 'enterprise' be added to the tool's description.
Jill: I see, we need better criteria. It needs to be supported and recommend by Salesforce.
Jack:  Well, here is a recommendation on the Salesforce wiki. Now what's your definition for support? Do you mean online documentation like on the tools website?
In Example 2 Jack has recommended a tool to auto load files into salesforce. Jack is trying to understand Jill's definitions by both offering suggestions and asking questions for criteria to understand the root cause. Also note that Jack 'accepts' the definition given by Jill and never 'tells' Jill its a 'poor definition' or 'bad idea'. Jill quickly realized that the definition of enterprise needed to be more then just a keyword and came up with real criteria that added value and minimized the risk of using the tool. Enterprise companies should always have criteria for evaluating a software program and tools they uses so they can compare the options when making a decision.