"Don't Start a Sentence with..."

Hey there!

Recipes for Success in 2020 C O N T I N U E D!

Never start a sentence with NO | BUT | HOWEVER.

“No. We’ve already tried that way and we saw how that turned out.”

“But what if that information doesn’t come through as planned?”

“However, there’s one thing you forgot.”

You can disagree with someone, and challenge their ideas, but you can do it in a way that will set the conversation up for success.

You see, NO | BUT | HOWEVER are negative qualifiers that we use habitually but don’t realize how they are a direct contradiction to what someone else is saying. You are disregarding someone else’s well thought out position. You may not mean it that way, but when someone has just been vulnerable enough to share a perspective or idea, and it’s met with NO | BUT | HOWEVER you may as well punch them in the gut.

These are verbal “ticks” that can really impact how people see us and approach us both personally and professionally.

So what do we do when we do have a somewhat critical point to make?

1) Try to find something about what the person has said to affirm and bring positivity too.

”Wow that is a great idea….”

”Yes! Thank you for that. Let’s also consider…”

2) Then, make you point without completely disqualifying what the speaker said before you.

This intentionality and thoughtfulness around your communication and speech with really encourage healthy conversation and encourage people to speak up around you! Don’t miss out or shutdown what people around you may have inside to add value! Let’s live openly and thoughtfully with one another!

XOXO

Ash