Me and We

For many of us, important conversations can be a challenge because it feels like we need to do a lot in a short amount of time: We need to hear what the other person is saying, we need to interpret it, we need to come up with a response, and we need to tailor our response to be a good fit for the person we’re talking to. In today’s post, Pete offers a shortcut that can help you get to a useful place more quickly, without necessarily going through all those steps.

For more support on presenting yourself with more confident presence, check this out.

A lot of us feel challenged by one-on-one or leadership conversations. To be really good at them, you need to think on your feet, figure out what to say, and respond quickly—and that can feel like a lot of pressure.

All of that is true, but we often make things harder on ourselves by going into these conversations without enough forethought. We’re not always clear on our own agenda—what we want out of the discussion. And we’re not always clear on the shared goal—what success looks like for both of us, the “we” in the conversation.

Before your next important conversation or meeting, take a few minutes to clarify two things: your own agenda and the goal for the collective “we.” Ask yourself, “If this conversation goes as well as it possibly could, what better situation will we both be in?”

As a leader, a manager, or a team member, keeping these ideas in mind before the conversation begins will help you think more clearly and act more effectively in the moment. When you know what success looks like for both you and your counterpart, you can respond faster, communicate more thoughtfully, and lead with greater confidence.

See All Vlogs

No Comments yet!

Your Email address will not be published.

Receive weekly posts of insight and inspiration.