WAIT!
I just read about this acronym. WAIT-Why Am I Talking? It struck me as a very important question to remember. The person who shared it, Tom DeCaro, was using it in relation to when we are emotional, possibly saying things that we might regret later. I agree that when emotions are running high, it is a great time to remember to ask that question. It then occurred to me that there are many other opportune times to remind ourselves to WAIT! I see it as a way to remember to be clear with ourselves about the reason for the conversation and what we are truly trying to communicate.
Here are a few situations that popped into my mind…
Staff Evaluations
Is your purpose to empower and encourage or to point out all the mistakes that have happened?
Networking Meetings
Are you more interested in creating relationships or making sure you get your business card in the hand of as many people as possible so that you can “sell” them your product or service?
Sales Calls
Is your goal to convince the prospect why they can't live without your product or service or to find out what their needs are to see if it is possible to serve them?
When our partners need to vent
Is it more important to solve a perceived problem for your partner or to listen and empathize?
What other opportunities to WAIT can you think of?
© Teresa Cleveland, The Entrepreneur’s Toolbox
Great post! Another opportunity: When you get mad at the Department of Motor Vehicles for giving you a parking ticket and you call to vent only to realize you didn’t get a ticket for a parking violation, but for expired license tags. Oops. WAIT!?
LOL…you just brought up a myriad of flashbacks of times in the past 50 years I have done things like that, Meredith! Thanks for sharing!