Saying the Perfect Thing at the Perfect Time

Do you know how sometimes you think of the perfect and right thing to say after you have left a conversation? Or you might think of the right thing to say before a conversation and then forget it during the conversation? This happens to me sometimes. It can be so frustrating. It can also be helpful.

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Interestingly, there is a communication theory called “Imagine Interaction Theory” that describes this phenomenon. From this theory, we know that our imagination can help us to be more effective in our communication by proactively and/or retrospectively evaluating our communication by looking for ways to improve.

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In this way, we are not looking at the “botched” communication as frustrating but as helpful. It is a strategy we can use to change the way we communicate, allowing us to reflect on past and future communication experiences.

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There are lots of picture books that are about imagination and imaginary play including: Let’s Do Nothing by Tony Fucile and Imagine a Day by Sarah Thomson and Rob Gonsalves. In fact, many of my favorite books are about imagination like, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and Duck on a Bike by David Shannon.

Many picture books involve imagination and they are amazing. But I am still looking for a book that specifically captures how we can imagine better communication. A book that says something like, “I should have said this” or “I could have said that.” Also, “I will say this.”

When thinking about imagination and communication, good stories can help. They open us up to new possibilities that may be even outside the scope of our own imagination. A good story is like a flying anchor. It grounds our identity while pushing us to our potential.

A good story may even help us to figure out the right thing to say at the right time. Imagine that! Now, wouldn’t that be magical? I think so.

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3 Responses to “Saying the Perfect Thing at the Perfect Time”

  1. Mark Whiting on 01 May 2014 at 2:04 pm

    This happens to me all the time! I did it at a job interview where I thought of the perfect answer and it came out completely wrong, the next day at a second interview for a different place I had the same question come up and I got so excited that I knew the answer that I completely forgot what I was going to say. Its funny how sometimes the simplest thing is nearly impossible to communicate.

  2. Justin Stewart on 12 Dec 2014 at 9:55 am

    I hate it when this happens, sometimes I leave a conversation wishing I would have forgotten the thing i just communicated 🙂 and wishing i hadn’t shared it.

  3. Brendan Johnston on 13 Dec 2014 at 8:20 pm

    Honestly I always end up saying the wrong things at the wrong time, but there can be those occasions where I say the wrong things at the perfect time and it ends up being a good joke for my friends or it ends up helping me in the end with something so there are some advantages with being wrong, sometimes.

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