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Tips and stories to add value to you and your organisation

Ask Them To Summarise

19 July 2015

Here is a simple coaching technique to have fun with. When we get a bit bogged down in the middle of a conversation, or are trying to wrap up at the end of one, we can make the mistake of talking. It’s a mistake because this doesn’t give us any information about the other person we are with and if they really agree with us or not. If we ask them ‘do you agree’ they may say ‘yes’ to keep the peace and in reality are actually thinking ‘no.’

Instead of us talking, there is more value to be had in inviting them to talk. We can ask them:

‘So, what’s in your head?’

Or

‘What’s your thinking here?’

Or

‘Can you summarise what you’re taking away from this conversation?’

Or

‘Can you run through what you will be doing next?’

Inviting people to disclose gives us useful information and means we are less likely to exit the conversation with a misunderstanding between us.

So, this week have fun asking people to summarise!

Next week: How Long Is A Minute?