Talk less and achieve better business results

We’ve all heard the saying “less is more”. In our personal lives we think of reducing clutter and living the simple life. As Graham Hill puts it; less stuff, more happiness. But when it comes to the workplace we don’t tend to think like that. More is more, right? Higher profits and increased market share – more is definitely better! We’re trained like that! Unfortunately this usually translates into the way we behave as leaders. We tend to talk a lot. We share our opinions widely, perhaps too much. In the best performing teams the leaders talk the least.

Talk less and leave room for others

As a leader when you say less, you leave room for others. Your employees will open up and contribute. That’s when real creativity and empowerment happens. You’ll find very quickly that conversations will start running on less gas. It’s like using a more efficient fuel to extend your car’s mileage – only it doesn’t cost you anything!

Doing it isn’t easy. It takes a lot of practice. When there’s silence in a conversation our tendency is to fill it with sound. It feels awkward when there’s silence. That’s why people shift in their seat and clear their throats. Try to ask probing questions and let them sink in. Just wait it out. Embrace silence! Whatever you do, don’t find more ways to rephrase your question, and make sure you don’t answer it yourself. Let it drop and give people space to breathe and contribute.

But isn’t it quicker just to tell everyone what to do and finish the meeting thirty minutes earlier? Short term – sure! Long term – no! By giving people room to contribute, you’ll encourage speaking up, people will be more engaged as the ideas are their own, and ultimately, you’ll get better business results.

If you speak too much, people will assume you don’t know

We tend to think that by talking more we’re exhibiting our innate brilliance and imparting our wise perspective upon the world. Even if we don’t think like that, people assume we do when we hardly take a breath and let others into the conversation.

If your idea can be conveyed in three sentences, why take twenty? Get to the point! If not, people become frustrated and disengaged. It stops people speaking up and being honest. People will tend to agree with you so the conversation can end. Be genuinely interested in other’s opinions and encourage debate – that’s where real ideas are born and developed.

If you want people to contribute their ideas, light a match but don’t start a fire.

Ultimately, you’ll get more things done

When you talk less and get to the point you save time. You eliminate the non-essential. Things move faster and decisions are made quickly.

Look for cues from your team. If people are rolling their eyes or looking away it’s probably too late. Look for signs that people are withdrawing. Are they asking less questions? Are they appearing restless? Maybe it’s time to pause and give some room.

In the end, you’ll get better quality discussions and a more engaged team. And that, ultimately, will give you more time to focus on the right stuff.

Did I say too much?