Key Messages
Learn Lean Talks: How To Get Your Point Across Without Wasting Everyone’s Time
We all struggle with getting what we want out of meetings.
Whether it’s a team meeting, a one-on-one, or even a conversation with someone you like, talking is not always easy.
But you can learn how to talk in ways that are clear, direct and to-the-point – something that will help save everyone’s time and increase efficiency.
Talk Lean is the book for that!
You’ll learn when to start sentences with “you” versus “I,” why rhetorical questions can be killer in meetings, and how to get what you want across effectively.
The idea is that by learning how to talk lean and cut down on unnecessary words, ideas, and phrases – you’ll be able to make sure that everyone gets the most out of the meeting itself.
Getting Your Point Across In Meetings: How To Make Your Purpose Clear Right From The Start
If you want your meetings to get off on the right foot, one thing you always have to do is politely express exactly what’s on your mind.
As soon as the meeting starts, make sure that your purpose is clear.
This way, no one will have time to wonder or get suspicious about any hidden agenda.
Stick to direct but respectful language; you don’t want the conversation to be interpreted as too aggressive or rude.
Many times, people remember how they were spoken to rather than remembering what was actually said.
For instance, that goes for a manager who has an employee who often shows up late.
Rather than scolding them with an angry statement like “Why do you insist on being late?” it is better to phrase it diplomatically and use language that invites a positive response.
An example of this could be: “John, how can we make sure that we can avoid any future issues with punctuality?”.
Before every meeting make sure you know what your objective is and plan out how you are going to lead the conversation towards it.
Ask yourself questions such as “What do I hope happens at the end of the meeting?” so that everything flows smoothly from start to finish.
The Key To Effective Meetings: Speak From Your Own Point Of View And Listen Carefully
If you want to have a productive meeting, one of the best things you can do is create an environment of openness.
This means talking from your own point of view, rather than trying to impose your ideas on others.
Start sentences with the personal pronoun “I”, such as “I disagree with you” instead of “You are wrong”.
Additionally, it’s important to really listen – not just with your ears but with your intuition as well.
Take note of what others say and write it down rather than paraphrasing or putting into your own words.
If there is something you don’t understand, feel free to ask!
Lastly, remember to also tune-in to how you feel during the conversation – this will allow greater understanding in the moment and help construct an accurate account of the meeting afterwards.
Communicating Effectively To Make Productive Meetings And Resolve Problems
It’s important to respond appropriately, not only when having a productive meeting, but also if you intend to elevate the conversation to a higher level.
You don’t want your response to be negative or lead the other person in a direction that blocks further discussion.
To make sure this doesn’t happen, you have to pay attention to how you phrase your sentences and find the right balance between making others feel comfortable and making sure your needs get stated clearly.
Using the pronouns “I” and “me”, phrases like ” I need”, “I like”, and “I want” help make sure you’re getting your opinion across strongly, while using past tense words like “you” lets the other person know that you don’t understand something they said.
Moreover, phrases with future tense such as “What do we do from here?” or “If I, what will you do to?” invite them to take a position, make a proposal or unblock a situation in order for the meeting to move forward.
If done skillfully, it allows both parties at hand to easily identify solutions together.
The Power Of Nonverbal Communication And Quality Control In Conversations
The Talk Lean book stresses the importance of being smart about body language and emphasizing quality control at the end of each meeting.
After all, there is no surefire way to interpret someone’s body language and understand what they are thinking — so it’s best to just ask.
Moreover, when expressing an idea or making a statement that we truly believe in, our gestures and facial expressions will serve as powerful indicators of our true thoughts.
But if we try to disguise our thoughts with body language that doesn’t match up, people on the other end may become suspicious.
For this reason, it’s important for everyone participating in the meeting to conduct a “quality control” at the conclusion of their discussion.
This entails asking questions like: What was your impression of my ideas? Or Was everyone happy with how the meeting went? This allows us to check our clarity and ensure that our ideas were well-received by everyone involved.
Wrap Up
The main idea behind Talk Lean is that productive meetings rely on courage and openness.
It’s essential to state your goals and listen carefully to what others are saying in order to move the conversation forward.
You’ll also want to watch your body language, as it sends its own set of signals.
To make sure that you have productive meetings, Talk Lean suggests planning ahead and taking a few minutes to define the goal of the meeting before it starts.
If it’s stated clearly at the outset, then everyone knows what they should be aiming for during the discussion.
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that you have a productive and effective meeting every time.
