Abstract Expressions vs. Concrete Expressions: For Effective Communication

In communication, understanding the difference between abstract expressions and concrete expressions is crucial. Abstract expressions often leave situations and actions ambiguous, leading to misunderstandings or conflicts. On the other hand, concrete expressions clearly convey problems and emotions, making it easier for the other person to understand and promoting constructive dialogue.

Abstract Expressions Examples

• "The project is behind schedule."

• "XX is not contributing to the team."

• "Our approach is not working."

Concrete Expressions Examples

• "The project is behind schedule because the tasks decided at last week's meeting are not yet completed."

• "I feel that XX is not contributing to the team because they haven't given much input in recent meetings."

• "Our approach is not working because the test results so far have not met our goals."

Benefits of Concrete Expressions

1. Clarification of the Situation: By indicating specific facts and actions, the background and causes of problems become clear. This helps the other person understand more easily.

2. Sharing of Emotions: Expressing one's feelings and thoughts concretely makes it easier for the other person to understand one's perspective, reducing misunderstandings.

3. Proposing Solutions: By presenting not only the problems but also specific solutions and action plans, constructive dialogue is more likely to occur.

Points for Concrete Expressions

1. Provide Specific Facts or Examples: By presenting facts or specific examples, the other person can more concretely imagine the situation. For instance, instead of saying "The project is behind schedule," say "The project is behind schedule because the tasks decided at last week's meeting are not yet completed."

2. Explain Feelings and Impacts: By explaining one's feelings and their impacts, it becomes easier for the other person to understand one's stance and what they are feeling. For example, instead of saying "XX is not contributing to the team," explain specifically, "I feel that XX is not contributing to the team because they haven't given much input in recent meetings."

3. Propose Specific Solutions: By presenting specific solutions and action plans, constructive dialogue is more likely to occur. For example, instead of saying "Our approach is not working," propose "Our approach is not working because the test results so far have not met our goals; therefore, I would like to try a new approach."

Specific Examples

Abstract Expressions

• "The meetings are too long."

• "I don't understand the proposal."

• "The workload is too much."

Concrete Expressions

• "The meetings feel too long because we regularly go over the scheduled time. I think we should improve our time management during meetings."

• "I don't understand the proposal because there are few concrete data or examples. It would help if you could provide more detailed information."

• "I feel overwhelmed by the workload because I am currently handling multiple tasks simultaneously in the recent project. I would like to discuss the possibility of distributing some tasks among the team."

Conclusion

Using concrete expressions rather than abstract ones allows you to clearly convey problems and feelings, reducing misunderstandings and promoting constructive dialogue. By indicating specific facts and proposing solutions, more effective communication becomes possible.