What “I’ll try” really means in business and personal relationships

Short answer: the other person isn’t really committed.

Communications 101: Communication is the foundation of all relationships  — business and personal.  When communications function well in a relationship, the relationship succeeds. When they don’t, the relationship struggles.  It’s that simple. And “I’ll try” is a bright red flag.  Whether it’s a business or personal relationship, “I’ll try”  is a signal that should not be ignored…it signifies something is amiss in the communications, and thus the relationship. When you receive the “I’ll try” message, you need to proceed carefully.

Gene Guberman ([email protected]) specializes in dealing with communications within relationships. Here is his take on the situation: The way someone communicates reveals something the person is unaware of. In poker it’s known as a person’s “tell” that unveils they are “bluffing”. Interpersonal communication is loaded with varieties of information untrained people don’t perceive and speakers don’t know they are unwittingly sharing about themselves. Conflict is omnipresent between individuals. Managing conflict between people and building successful relationships requires understanding the hidden aspects of communications – our own and those of significant others.

 

Sandra Holtzman teaches CEO 035: Licensing.
She is the author of Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing.