Why do some people leave you more confused after they explain?

5/14 Edited to

... Read moreIn my own experience, encountering explanations that leave me more confused than enlightened is surprisingly common. What often happens is that the person explaining gets caught up in providing too many minor details that don’t add value to the core message. This is sometimes referred to as a 'word salad,' where an overload of irrelevant or excessive information complicates what should be a straightforward explanation. From what I’ve noticed, this tendency to over-explain often stems from the explainer’s desire to be thorough or perfect, but ironically, it backfires. Instead of clarifying, it overwhelms the listener's processing ability, leading to frustration and confusion. This aligns with what is highlighted as a 'verbal overload' threat in conversational dynamics. To tackle this, I've found that pausing the conversation and asking for the key points can help filter out the noise. Also, encouraging the explainer to summarize their thoughts concisely allows for better understanding. Being aware of this pattern—that sometimes more words do not equal more clarity—has improved my communication skills both in professional and personal settings. Sharing these experiences can remind us all that effective communication is not about how much we say but how clearly we convey the essential points. Recognizing signs of verbal overload and practicing brevity can make conversations more productive and less confusing for everyone involved.