The Psychology Behind Over-Explaining at Work

What was meant to be a simple revision turns out to be a complex explanation, involving all the decisions and implications involved. The aim of this practice is clarity; however, the result frequently seems excessive in relation to the task.

Excessive elaboration on an issue may be viewed as a widespread habit typical of different specialists operating in various spheres and, specifically, in contexts of ambiguous requirements.

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, workers dealing with uncertainty will explain their actions in more detail to eliminate confusion. Through increased communication, they aim to ensure their actions are interpreted correctly.


Anxiety and perception play a role

Workplace communication is impacted not only by expectations but also by internal perceptions as well. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes has found evidence that people tend to alter their mode of communication in order to communicate competence and trustworthiness.

Excessive explanations can become an attempt at communicating competence when there is no consistency in feedback or no clarity in the criteria for assessment. It seems that employees perceive themselves as lowering the chance of being misunderstood or criticized by giving additional information.

At the same time, however, the very purpose of efficient communication is transformed into the need for assuring communication.

When does detail start becoming a barrier?

Too much explanation can actually be counter-productive. As seen in studies on cognitive load, having too much information hampers other people's ability to pinpoint what is truly important, causing delays in decision-making and making it more likely for misunderstandings to happen.

It may take time for one's co-workers to discern which information is pertinent. In order for a message to be effective, it must be relevant to begin with. Relevant messages do not require too many words in order to be clear.