Personal & Professional Development Community
Why Smart People Get It Wrong: The Hidden Patterns Behind Workplace Misunderstanding
with Isla Reddin
In today’s workplace, communication is constant—but alignment is not. Leaders, teams, and learning professionals often assume that clear messaging leads to shared understanding, yet even the most capable and well-intentioned people regularly walk away with different interpretations of the same conversation.
In this highly interactive session, participants will experience firsthand how and why communication breaks down, even when everyone is engaged and trying to do the right thing. Drawing on research in cognitive psychology and workplace communication, we will explore the hidden patterns that drive misunderstanding—how people fill in gaps, assume shared meaning, and move forward without verifying alignment.
Through real-time exercises, practical frameworks, and applied discussion, participants will learn how to surface hidden assumptions, translate complex messages into shared understanding, and create communication that leads to clarity, adoption, and action. This session is designed for learning and development professionals, leaders, and anyone responsible for turning ideas into outcomes.
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Key Takeaways
- Diagnose where communication is breaking down using the “Said → Heard → Assumed → Acted On” pattern.
- Surface hidden assumptions before they create confusion and rework.
- Use simple “Meaning Check” language to confirm shared understanding and drive action.
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About Your Speaker:
Isla Reddin, Corporate Performance Coach
Isla Reddin is a corporate performance coach passionate about bringing diverse tools and strategies to support individuals and teams to grow and reach their desired goals. Her background in curriculum design, training, and project management informs her coaching practice. Isla believes new tools and paradigms of learning need to be constantly created to meet the needs of individuals and society.
In her early career, Isla supported global sales, media, and PR events for international automotive, pharmaceutical, and financial services companies. In the past 15 years, she has worked in Europe and the US as a consultant and corporate performance coach with multiple clients, and as an entrepreneur in the tech, and education spaces. She understands how to help leaders and teams handle the diverse challenges they face with practical, creative, and flexible solutions.
The ATD Austin Chapter has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials. This program qualifies for a maximum of 1 point.
