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to winning department. Try the same idea in a meeting to "subtly" remind motor mouths that they're being repetitious and/or long-winded. A foghorn. A whistle. A bat. A balloon. A broken record. Whatever the object, place it in the center of the table. Then when someone bogs down the meeting, push the prop into that person's space at the table. At its best, it stops the offender; at the least, it generates a laugh and breaks the tension. |
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Tip 381: If you don't have something to say, don't say it. |
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Participating doesn't mean you should necessarily feel obligated to comment on every issue. If someone hands you the baton and you have nothing to contribute, pass it on: "I think everybody has already expressed my views." "I don't have an opinion one way or the other." ''I don't know a thing about that subject and don't want to confuse the issue." "Thanks, I'll pass." People will love you. |
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Tip 382: Don't ask a question simply to ask a question. |
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Some team members become uncomfortable with silence. So when a colleague tosses out an idea that is met with silence, some people feel compelled "to get the ball rolling" by asking a question. Don't. If you don't really have a legitimate question and don't care about the issue one way or the other, don't add to the problem by opening your mouth. Hours have been lost by people chasing down answers to questions that should never have been asked and bear little or no relevance to the decision or problem. |
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Tip 383: Avoid answering questions that nobody has asked. |
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In presenting ideas, try to anticipate others' objections and questions and be prepared with answers. But that doesn't mean you should dump that data without cause. Such thinking leads to talking in circles, digressing, and rambling on with the same information given four different ways. Make your point succinctly. Then pause. If you get questions, pull out your bag of tricks and answer them. If not, don't dump. |
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