Too often there’s that paralyzing self-talk that tells you that everyone else in the meeting knows more about the topic than you and they’re all speaking the same language.
But in my observations, that’s very rarely the case. Often, we don’t ask the question because we’re afraid we’ll look uninformed and open ourselves up to embarrassment. We can agonise over whether to speak up and say something, and get lost in our own heads with worry.
There’s been no shortage of times when I’ve asked the “stupid question” – “I’m sorry, but what does that mean”? and found other people nodding their heads in agreement or openly thanking me for asking that question.
Isn’t it funny that we can be surrounded by people who have exactly the same thoughts and fears as us, but we’re all afraid to voice any concerns?
When you ask that question you demonstrate to others that you’re prepared to step outside of your comfort zone to get clarity and that’s an extremely powerful attribute to have.
So, the next time you’re unsure of something in a meeting – ask the question.
