"okay, so you mean that the profile data is being sent, but something is messing up in our endpoint handle, right?"
"No, it looks more like it's a routing issue. The endpoint never gets hit when the client sends data, so we're trying to troubleshoot where the disconnect happens"
Not trying to be snarky; just had a real world example handy because my entire team uses this type of messaging. Usually starts with a "okay, just trying to level set...", or "just so I know I'm on the same page".
In our experience, this type of communication has helped minimize instances of completely mismatching on task expectations
Whenever I'm saying "just so I know I'm on the same page", I communicate my best understanding of the correct interpretation of my colleague's message. I would never deliberately introduce a misinterpretation to see if it gets corrected. Misinterpretations happen often enough naturally already, in both directions, and my goal is generally to minimize them.
Right on. It's a fine strategy. An alternative one is to pick your second best guess (usually in an upward inflecting question-voice; semi incredulously), to see if this thing you think isn't the right idea gets approval. Then, you can ask your first best guess because now just asking will highlight the distinction, which may make the missing piece more apparent to both parties.
Really no wrong answer, so long as all parties are earnestly working towards the solution. The nice part about this strategy is it lets your 'most correct' answer actually be multiple answers that you whittle down, rather than making the judgement calls, yourself, on what the other person most probably means to what they least probably mean. You remove an assumption and lead with your biggest concern, even if that seems like a crazy suggestion. Once you confirm that it is crazy, you're closer to the target. And if the 'crazy' thing was right, then you get to skip a lot of the steps between your initial best understanding and the correct understanding.
Hmm, I see, thanks. This sounds pretty everyday to me, but I guess that's probably just because we already do this. Things like "you're saying <x>" and "OK, summarize my points back to me so I know we're aligned".
"No, it looks more like it's a routing issue. The endpoint never gets hit when the client sends data, so we're trying to troubleshoot where the disconnect happens"
Not trying to be snarky; just had a real world example handy because my entire team uses this type of messaging. Usually starts with a "okay, just trying to level set...", or "just so I know I'm on the same page".
In our experience, this type of communication has helped minimize instances of completely mismatching on task expectations