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Explaining “The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing”
Anwar Kareem 24/10/2024, 12:12English.me team member
What does it mean?
The phrase means that there is a lack of communication and coordination within an organization or group, leading to confusion and inefficiency.
Tone
Frustration and criticism
Origin
The phrase likely originates from the Bible, specifically from Matthew 6:3, where it is used in a different context to illustrate the idea of doing good deeds in secrecy. Over time, it has evolved to describe situations of poor communication.
Examples of usage
- The project failed because the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing, with the marketing team unaware of the changes made by the development team.
- It felt like the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing when the company's HR department scheduled interviews without consulting the hiring managers.
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