When communicating in a meeting, leaders usually fall into one of two categories: those who think about their ideas in an orderly manner and formulate a response before speaking, and those who use less structured methods to share all ideas aloud to spark discussion or The people who reached a consensus make the final decision.
Although there is nothing wrong with these two ways of communication, it is important to understand how to communicate best to get the most out of your ideas. Depending on your company’s culture, if you fall into the latter category, you may be mistakenly seen as disorganized or lengthy.
Another important thing to remember is that virtual brainstorming can be more tricky and can create additional barriers to contact with employees. You may need to be more creative in technology and tools.
Therefore, the next time you attend a meeting that needs to be conceived, please try the following strategies to help you understand your point of view:
share your ideas
By being frank about what you are doing, you can let your manager and/or team understand how you communicate. This may seem like saying, “I’m brainstorming aloud to help find our solution.” Or, “I’m talking about a draft here. Your comments are welcome.” Hold on to the fact that you are thinking aloud. Be open. This will signal to others that they can do the same.
I once worked with a client, and her CEO often put her on the spot. He would ask her sharp and direct questions at senior leadership meetings-even if she prepared them in advance, he would throw a curve ball that would make her lose her balance. During the review, she was told that when she answered his questions, she sounded disorganized. In order to help her deliver, we decided on two options: First, if the question does not need to be answered immediately, she will state that she will reply in an email. However, if so, she would say that she is brainstorming loudly to find a solution. By exploring her options, developing an action plan, and being open to her communication style, she is able to regain power and credibility when it really matters.
Communicate in "Tweets"
Although it may feel untrue at first, intentionally restricting you can also help others see a short summary of your thought process during a brainstorming session. You can practice doing this before the meeting and see where you can improve your skills.
Another way to practice "speaking in a tweet" is to write a sentence from a presentation or conversation and see how many words you can delete without losing meaning. Practice reading aloud. Then, take another sentence and do the same thing. You may even want to practice reading your acronyms in front of the mirror to understand the impact of a little strategic cut on your delivery.
Thinking and speaking in the outline
Adding outline concepts to how you share ideas can help you show off your brainstorming process. Consider developing a rough outline (for example, the main point and two or three sub-points) to emphasize your ideas and give them some structure. If you do visual processing, try drawing your outline on a whiteboard for others to see.
As a best practice, it is always a good idea to create and practice outlines when giving presentations. You can also use this method for impromptu speeches. First, slow down-give your words a chance to keep up with your thoughts. Then, think about the big idea of your outline; share it first. Finally, provide your two to three support points. By limiting yourself to sharing only the most important points, you will avoid letting your colleagues receive too much information.
Set time limit for idea sharing
This strategy will not kill your creative thinking, but can help you move quickly and avoid thinking overload (and the dreaded "analysis paralysis"). Remember, you can return at any time and share more ideas (or based on the ideas you generate) in another meeting or email.
If you don’t set an actual timer, you can keep an eye on your audience to make sure you don’t lose them (or ask a trusted colleague to do so). You may periodically pause and ask for feedback about what you’re sharing, so you don’t think about it—if you’re worried about forgetting, you can jot down where you paused in your notes. Make sure you are actually having a conversation, not a monologue.
Emphasize your strengths
Finally, if you are good at ideation, please consider arranging more brainstorming sessions instead of formal discussions. Take this opportunity to organize your department according to your strengths.
You can schedule regular monthly brainstorms to involve your colleagues. Feel free to touch; you can use sticky notes to jot down your thoughts (and encourage your meeting participants to do the same). Thinking "out loud" on paper can help participants who sometimes don't like to share publicly.
Comments