If you have been reading my newsletters for a while, you might remember the Doritos story.
When I asked someone to bring “chips” to learn how to play poker, she proudly showed up with a bag of Doritos. Not exactly what I meant.
Well… whoops. I did it again.
Recently, we asked a group of women to bring something sweet and indulgent to share. Seems clear enough, right? One woman brought watermelon. Another brought wine.
And Sherry, who once brought Doritos chips when I meant poker chips, showed up with Japanese sweet potatoes and Gouda cheese.
Now listen, I appreciate initiative and I appreciate creativity. But if I am honest, we were really hoping for a bag of Godiva chocolate. Instead, we were passing sweet potatoes.
Here is the lesson. Again.
When you’re not specific, people fill in the blanks for you. And they fill them in based on their interpretation, not your intention. Watermelon can feel indulgent to someone. Wine can feel sweet. Sweet potatoes technically qualify. But none of them were what we actually had in mind.
This shows up everywhere. In business. In leadership. In communication. You think you are being clear, but you’re being broad. And broad directions produce broad results. If you want better outcomes, tighten the message.
Here are three ways to do that this week.
First, define what success actually looks like. Not generally – specifically. If you want Godiva, say Godiva.
Second, remove language that leaves room for interpretation. Words like “something,” “kind of,” or “whenever you can” invite confusion.
Third, ask the person to repeat back what they heard. It is one of the fastest ways to catch misalignment before it costs you time, money, or momentum.
Clarity is not micromanaging, it’s leadership.
At Poker Divas, this is something we teach constantly. At the table, vague bets lose money. In business, vague communication loses results. The women who win are the ones who are precise, decisive, and direct.
If you want to strengthen communication, confidence, and decision making within your organization or leadership team, let’s talk. Reply to this email or visit pokerdivas.com to explore bringing Poker Divas to your next event or corporate program.
And next time I say sweet and indulgent, I might just specify the chocolate.
Earlier this month, we partnered with the New York Athletic Club for a full Poker Divas program with their members. It was a fantastic event. Great energy, a lot of competition, and a lot of insight. It never takes long before the real lessons start to show up at the table. Take a look at a few photos below to get a sense of the experience.
