I’ve just finished a three day strategy retreat with an executive team of an unbelievably successful business. What they told me at the end of the event, was how valuable it was to hear everyone on the team share their insights and ideas for innovation. This allowed rapid understanding and an explosion of ideas for growing their business in unexpected ways.
I’m guessing most people who open this email are not the people who need to read it most so let’s start with advice for you first.
Yes people annoy me doing this!
If you feel this way chances are not getting your voice heard. You can make changes that will help people you work with by saying one of these phrases:
“Rather than jump in and discuss this, I need a minute to think, let’s reflect personally and reconvene in three minutes to discuss”
“Let me share a counter view to what I am guessing many will be thinking…”
”I find a pre read helpful for important topics, can we all commit to doing that in the future?”
If you eye rolled to this idea and made it this far this advice is for you:
This is a stupid concept!
If you think this, it’s likely you don’t realize you might be the first to talk in a meeting or conversation. It’s not bad…But it might be stifling others around you to share what they are thinking if you always jump in with your opinion first, so consider this:
for the next week draw a picture of every group conversation with a series of parallel lines. Name each line as to who is talking first second and third.
Practice by taking a later order in the conversation.
Notice how people react to you when you jump in first second or third.
This often happens with our three daughters. We have to tell them not to talk over their sisters and wait their turn to speak. But. In waiting their turn they need to actually listen to what is being said, same applies at work.
Are you listening and learning the value of everyone getting to speak?
Meanwhile, look out in your inbox later this week for news of my next book!
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
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