Once again, I am caught in an uncomfortable dilemma between speaking and listening. Ironically, I find myself both keen and reluctant to speak. I feel a brilliant idea buzzing in my head, but I’ll let others speak first. After all, I’ve heard that listening is more important than speaking.
Speaking is undoubtedly important in business. For evident reasons, I’ve sometimes questioned, do I belong in business? I was surprised to learn that even Whitney Johnson, one of three founders of Rose Park Advisors, is reluctant to “to talk shop” but especially in the presence of capable men. She offers three suggestions to get women talking.
- Invert the listen/talk radio
We retain 85% more of what we learn when we actively participate than when we passively listen.
- Talk shop with other women
Speak with other women first to become confident enough to share our opinions in any situation. - Require women to talk the walk
A common problem is that men have started talking before meetings have begun, establishing themselves as contributors and women as listeners.
Success depends on learning to both speak and listen – “When we listen, we acknowledge others’… expertise, when we talk, we acknowledge our own.”
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