A key principle of marketing is to avoid the assumption that what we (the "company") say is what they (the "customer") hear, and what they understand is what we mean. That's why I, well, shuddered when I was explaining something in the office and then heard myself ask the classic and perhaps most useless question ever: "Do you know what I mean?"

How can the listener know that their understanding matches the talker's intent? And if the listener says, "Yes, I know what you mean," how can the talker know if they're right or not? 

Maybe you're thinking this is just semantics. NO, it's really not! It's an illustration of the problematic communication habits we make in daily life that can inadvertently cause mistrust, hurt relationships, and damage customer intimacy.

I think "Do you know what I mean" really means "I'm not sure I'm being clear; what do you understand from what I said?"

That's my opinion... do you know what I mean?