Silence please

Date: 2024-12-19 12:34

Do you recognize this? You are in a meeting. The discussion is complex, but you can sense everything: we are very close to finding a solution. And then it happens. Someone honks a question that comes completely out of the blue, and suddenly the discussion takes a completely different turn. At such a moment I often think: 'Did that person listen? Or does he just like to stir things up?' But sometimes I also wonder: is it just me? Am I insufficiently able to direct the discussion?

A great example of how we can get really good answers can be seen in the video Steve Jobs - Art of pausing. Here Jobs shows how powerful it can be to pause, listen carefully and ask the right questions. Another recommendation is the book Socrates on Sneakers by Elke Wiss. Sandra Stroeve has beautifully captured the essence of this visually — Sandra Stroeve on LinkedIn: #socratischinterview #questions #visual #visualcommunication #leadership | 159 comments

I have to admit: sometimes I don't listen well enough either. Or I don't take enough time and effort to ask that one really good question that makes the difference. Perhaps that is a good resolution for 2025: listen better and ask questions that really lead to something.

How do you deal with this? Let's inspire each other to become better at listening and leading together.