The feedback loop

The feedback loop is the idea that communication is not a one-way transmission but a constant exchange. One person sends a message, the other interprets it and gives a response; that response in turn affects the first person's next word. When this loop goes unnoticed, the two sides can drift apart as they misunderstand each other. Checking that one has been understood, that is, asking 'did I understand you correctly?', keeps this loop healthy. The coach helps the client build the habit of checking rather than assuming in communication; for most disconnections arise from an unchecked assumption.