Most leadership advice tells you what to say and when and how to say it.
But I read very little about when to keep your mouth shut – you know, top and bottom lip touching.
Some of the most important communication decisions I made as a leader had nothing to do with what I chose to share. They had everything to do with being specific about what wasn’t ready for prime time and knowing when it would be (if ever).
I tripped over my tongue on more than one occasion. These days I talk a lot of clients through how to smooth over the things that would have been better left unsaid to their boards, their teams, or donors.
It’s another one of those bad habits that grows out of good intentions. Wanting to explain but overexplaining instead. Wanting to get things right but tipping over into perfectionism. Wanting so badly to make people feel better that you offer assurances you don't quite have yet.
Sound familiar?
This week I share the tool that helped me most: a short list I wrote up before every important meeting … and a few thoughts on what to say when someone asks you directly about something you're not ready to discuss.
📌Before You Open Your Mouth
Until next time,
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