Oscar Wilde is quoted saying: "Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions."
Pause and re-read. Harsh isn’t it?
Certainly made me sit back and question where I’m following or repeating others vs. challenging the status quo.
Unfortunately there’s plenty of examples of group think in corporate life. You know - the people who always agree with the boss and make obvious generic statements like ‘make sure it’s futureproof’.
It can be easy to sleep walk into bland agreement when what your firm and clients really need is your opinion.
Your voice matters.
So how can we make sure you share it to best advantage? If you want to stand out and be heard, here are 4 points to consider.
1) Preparation is key to confidently creating an opinion. Read the briefing papers! If you’re looking to create impact it’s worth checking a couple of facts in advance to form an opinion you can stand by.
2) If someone beats you to it and expresses your opinion before you do, that’s not a problem. Build on what they said (don't repeat). For example, ‘I agree with Sam - we also need to check the product fit against xyz market and check the cost impact of bringing forward the deadline’.
3) If you can’t get a word in edgeways, making a physical gesture can help (no, not that one!). The idea is to draw attention to yourself to make it easier to interrupt – raising your hand and making eye contact with who is speaking generally works.
4) If you don’t have an opinion, challenge yourself whether you should be there. Can you delegate to someone where this would be a stretch opportunity and bring renewed energy? Free up your time to spend on activities where you can add the most value.
I’d love to hear what other advice you’d share to support readers to form confident opinions and create an impact.
In the meantime, cheers to your unique perspective and the value this brings. Oscar Wilde – challenge accepted.