‘The Truth is Not So Simple’

Contrary to popular belief, some people say, truth is not so simple.

Joanna Staniszewska

“This is a powerful reminder that what we perceive might only scratch the surface of reality,” says Joanna Staniszewska, a communication advisor and the founder of youll.be and co-founder of effenex. “Just as ‘Things are not always as they appear,’ our assumptions, expectations and biases can shroud the truth.”

Truth may not always be easy to discern. Its translation can be difficult.

Jamie Levin

“There are so many mechanisms and channels for communications these days — video, text, voicemail, email, social platforms, I could go on,” says Jamie Levin, a communications consultant at JLevin Communications.

“When writing an email, for example, how you intend it to be interpreted (factually) may not actually be how it’s understood and, depending on the nature of the announcements, this could have repercussions. After all, perception is reality, right?” Levin says.

That’s why, she adds, it’s imperative to learn how people will most likely analyze it and come to a judgment and what that judgment will be.

“It’s really important to consider the audience when crafting communications,” Levin says. “I often recommend, prior to distributing a very important announcement, that communications professionals contact a few people they trust and have them read the announcement for additional perspective. After all, once it’s distributed you can’t take it back.”

Human beings naturally want to understand other people and situations of interest and so they resort to dissecting what they see, hear and read.

“We want to unravel the intricate tapestry of human communication, revealing the layers of truth concealed beneath,” Staniszewska says.

Curiosity, emotions and psychology contribute to interpretation.

“We believe that understanding the nuances, exploring the depths of psychology and challenging preconceptions lead to profound insights,” Staniszewska points out.