I continued to pantomime my intent as the Italian grocery clerk looked at me in complete confusion. My inability to communicate with this person was beginning to frustrate me. I mean, this is me, the person who was voted Queen of Charades by friends and family alike. How could he not understand I was looking for eggs? I was making the appropriate chicken moves and was rather certain my omelet-making motion was right on point. But he just kept on staring.

After returning home from my trip to Italy, I remember how every event in my life seemed to take place with relative ease compared to my experience abroad. From getting groceries to making travel arrangements, when you speak the same language, you have already overcome the largest barrier in communication that exists. The same is true when it comes to managing projects: everything is easier when you speak the same project language.

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