Intent Doesn’t Count  🔗 **Source:** [Intent Doesn’t Count](https://tacoverdo.com/intent-doesnt-count/) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: > - #communication > - #intent > - #responsibility > Author: Taco Verdonschot > Source: Taco Verdonschot Blog > Reference: [Link](https://tacoverdo.com/intent-doesnt-count/) > date created: 2025-01-09 10:00 > > # Title: Intent Doesn’t Count > <!-- deep-read:sections start --> ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#summary) - [📖 Main Content](#main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#notes) - [📖 References](#references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#methodology) - [❓ Questions](#questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#future-research) - [💡 Implications](#implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical validity](#logical-validity) - [🔍 DARVO Analysis](#darvo-analysis) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#conclusion) ### References: - Taco Verdonschot Blog [Link](https://tacoverdo.com/intent-doesnt-count/) ## 📝 Summary: Taco Verdonschot’s article "Intent Doesn’t Count" explores the complexities of communication, particularly in digital spaces, emphasizing that good intentions often fall short if the results of communication are harmful. He discusses the "Assume Positive Intent" (API) principle, acknowledging its usefulness in interpreting messages but stressing that it should not be used to excuse poor communication. The author argues that it’s the result of the message, not the intent, that truly matters, and encourages responsibility from both senders and receivers in communication. ## 📖 Main Content: The article reflects on the importance of clarity in communication, particularly in written form. It highlights how digital communication can often be misunderstood, especially when tone and non-verbal cues are absent. Verdonschot advocates for assuming positive intent but also stresses that senders must take responsibility for their messages, ensuring clarity and considering how their words may be interpreted. The piece includes personal anecdotes to illustrate the nuances of intent versus impact. ### 🗒️ Notes: - **Assume Positive Intent (API)**: - Encourages reading messages with a positive perspective. - Especially useful in written communication, where tone can be misinterpreted. - Does not excuse poor communication from the sender. - **Sender's Responsibility**: - Senders must consider how their words may be perceived and should aim for clarity. - The use of emojis or clearer wording can prevent misunderstandings. - **Impact vs. Intent**: - Even if intentions are positive, the result can still be harmful. - Communication is a two-way street; both sender and receiver have roles in ensuring messages are understood as intended. - **Personal Example**: - Verdonschot shares an anecdote of an ill-judged joke, demonstrating how intent can clash with the recipient’s feelings. ## 📖 References: - Taco Verdonschot Blog [Link](https://tacoverdo.com/intent-doesnt-count/) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. **Assuming Positive Intent**: - Original: "Assuming positive intent invites you to read a message in several ways and assume the most positive possible way." - Paraphrase: "API encourages you to interpret messages optimistically, focusing on the best possible meaning behind them." 2. **Sender Responsibility**: - Original: "Assuming positive intent should be a fallback for when the sender fails to clearly communicate what they mean." - Paraphrase: "While API is helpful, it shouldn't replace the sender’s duty to communicate clearly and effectively." ## 📰 Newsletter: **Subject:** Clarifying Communication: Why Intent Isn’t Enough In this edition, we’re diving deep into the principle of "Assume Positive Intent" and why it’s not a free pass for poor communication. As digital communication becomes more prevalent, it’s easy to misread messages without the context of tone and body language. Taco Verdonschot tackles this issue head-on, explaining how we can foster better understanding in the workplace and beyond. But be warned—good intentions don’t always cut it; the results of your communication matter most. Check out the full article here for tips on how to improve your messaging, and avoid misinterpretations! ## ✅ Action Items: - **Improvement of Communication**: Consider how we can ensure clarity in both written and verbal communication within the WordPress community. This aligns with my goal of fostering transparency and inclusivity. - **Sender Responsibility**: Review and implement guidelines for clearer, more accountable communication in all community-related discussions. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: - If communication clarity improves within teams, misunderstandings and conflicts will decrease, leading to a more productive environment. - Greater emphasis on sender responsibility might encourage clearer, more empathetic communication across digital platforms. ### 📊 Methodology: - Data collection through surveys and feedback regarding communication effectiveness and misunderstandings within communities. - Experiment with sender-focused communication strategies, measuring the impact on team harmony and understanding. ### ❓ Questions: - How often do misunderstandings in digital communication arise from poor sender responsibility? - Can API be integrated into community guidelines to improve overall discourse? ### 🔮 Future Research: - Investigate the long-term effects of assuming positive intent on team productivity and morale. - Study the role of sender responsibility in reducing communication breakdowns in virtual teams. ### 💡 Implications: - Clearer communication will enhance collaboration, reduce friction in community spaces, and improve overall engagement. ## 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment: - **Visual Learners**: The article is text-based with no images or charts. Adding infographics could help break down complex ideas. - **Aural Learners**: A podcast or an audio version could help auditory learners absorb the content. - **Verbal Learners**: The language is rich in analogies and examples, making it suitable for linguistic learners. - **Kinesthetic Learners**: The content would benefit from practical exercises, such as role-playing effective communication scenarios. ## 📊 Accessibility Assessment: - **Screen Reader Compatibility**: The text is accessible, but adding alt-text to any images or visual aids would improve accessibility. - **Keyboard Navigation**: Fully navigable through keyboard shortcuts. - **Text Resizing**: The article is responsive, but text size flexibility would enhance readability. ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment: - **Cultural Relevance**: The article touches on a universal communication principle, but incorporating diverse cultural examples could broaden its appeal. - **Inclusive Language**: Language is gender-neutral and inclusive, with no evident exclusionary terms. - **Neurodiversity Support**: The structured approach and clear language are accessible, but breaking down ideas into simpler components might help individuals with ADHD or ASD. ### ✅ Logical validity: - **Sound Reasoning**: The core argument—that the result of communication matters more than the intent—flows logically. - **Logical Fallacy**: There are no apparent logical fallacies in the argument. The author effectively uses examples to support the main claims. 🔍 **DARVO Analysis**: - **Deny**: No sign of denial of harmful effects; the article acknowledges the impact of poorly communicated messages. - **Attack**: The article does not attack the reader but rather educates on better communication practices. - **Reverse Victim and Offender**: There’s no reversal of roles; the focus is on improving sender communication responsibility. ### 🔍 SEO Evaluation: - **Keywords**: The primary keyword “Assume Positive Intent” appears naturally throughout the article. - **Meta Description**: A clear summary of the article's key message. - **Title Tag**: The title is concise and relevant for SEO. - **Content Length**: Adequate for a blog post of this nature. ## 🎯 Conclusion: Taco Verdonschot’s article emphasizes the importance of clear, responsible communication. While "Assume Positive Intent" is helpful, it should not be an excuse for poor communication. Understanding the balance between intent and impact can improve both individual and group interactions in digital spaces. This lesson is especially valuable for fostering inclusive, transparent communities. <!-- deep-read:sections end --> 📄 **Full text:** ![[Full Document Contents/Articles/Intent Doesn’t Count|Intent Doesn’t Count, Taco]] ## Highlights - “Assume positive intent” invites you to read a message in several ways, and assume the most positive possible way. It invites you to assume that the sender of said message is not angry, mad, or frustrated unless they explicitly say so. Jen McFarland [wrote a series of articles about this](https://jenmcfarlandblog.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/the-power-of-positive-intent-assuming-positive-intent/) back in 2016. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jh8j2t98sdv5czv5fnj8vr0n)) - my teachers did not grade me for intent, but for the results I produced. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jh8j6mvb5srk8m2zw8nvh9r1)) - And I think that’s a lesson we should all remember when we’re talking about “assume positive intent” online. We do mess up. Sometimes badly. And that’s OK. We can apologize and learn. We can grow. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jh8j6dca7pqmh48eb2j7c7v9))