“So Useless.”

What’s the real measure of effective communication?

After nearly 20 years at Dominican University and over 30 years of teaching marketing, I still read every single course evaluation.

This past semester, one comment caught my attention:

“The course material was all common sense. So useless”

Years ago, this would have stung. Today, I see it differently – especially when I read the other feedback:

“Really everything in this course was helpful in my understanding of marketing”

“I loved that we were able to apply what we were learning with real people and real scenarios”

“It was a great experience that improved my confidence in marketing skills, which I thought I had none of”

“This was a fantastic course”

Here’s what I’ve learned about effective communication: when you truly understand your subject and explain it well, it SHOULD feel like common sense to your audience. It should feel like something they were already thinking and ready to understand…  because you’ve made it that clear.

This applies beyond the classroom. In presentations, meetings, or any communication, don’t aim to sound like a genius. Aim to be understood. Make your audience excited about the knowledge you’re sharing together. Now it’s not just  yours anymore, it’s theirs…it’s shared.

Now, about marketing being “useless”? That’s where I draw the line. Marketing connects people with solutions they need. What’s more useful than that?

What do you think?

See you tomorrow!

#Teaching #Marketing #Communication #HigherEducation #StudentFeedback