"...intention of the mind"

If there is anyone who had insight into the mechanics of good painting it was Leonardo Da Vinci. The mere fact he had "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper," two of the most famous art works in world history on his resume, is easily enough to establish his credentials. When painting a subject, Da Vinci said a good artist has two primary challenges: "man and the intention of the mind." The first, he noted, is easy in the sense it speaks to properly capturing the physical appearance of the subject. The second, however, is a different story. It involves properly interpreting the actions of the subject. What are they trying to communicate in their actions, including their expression?

This is the essence of what any of us face in striving to be a effective listener. A person, for instance, states emphatically that "I did not rob that bank." What could be more straightforward than that? The meaning of those five words is very clear. But in making such a declaration, what is behind it? In other words, is it a statement of truth? Is the speaker being honest? As one on the receiving end of the statement, how do they go about answering that question? As Da Vinci would say, how do receivers of that message determine the intention behind those words? This is where being an effective listener becomes rather tricky.

The expression on the speaker's face, the tone of their voice, our own base of knowledge, and other facts that may be known at the time are among the chief clues from which most of us draw in assessing the truthfulness of the initial statement. Sometimes that is easy and sometimes not. Bottom line: what is the intention of the speaker? Is it to tell the truth or is it to deceive? Making the proper or correct choice can be a guessing game. An accurate guess helps facilitate an act of communication. An incorrect guess can compromise that act. All this adds fuel to the reality that communication can be and often is difficult.