Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say

The fastest pathway to professional frustration is straight-forward. All you need to do is avoid saying what you mean and meaning what you say.

As a result, we end up doing a lot of talking to ourselves, spinning ideas around inside our heads. Instead of communicating these fabulous ideas and insights to our teams. Even if these ideas, at least on the surface, seem contrary to that little group-think mindset our organizations work so hard to preserve.

Or, we remain professionally ambiguous, undefined, not standing for any one particular purpose, pathway or method of pursuit. And we are reluctant to commit ourselves to one way or another way. So we shape-shift and go with the flow, running with that standardized, seemingly-safe, pack-mentality.

There is no remedy for professional frustration in maintaining that tack. Why continue to work at half the capacity of What is Possible?

1. Hire me to speak or conduct a workshop at your next corporate or association event.
2. Contact me. Let’s create a One Millimeter Mindset™ program that fits your needs.
3. Subscribe to my blog. Share your email address in the red box in the right column. Never miss another insightful post.

First, professional frustration is rooted in our belief that it is up to everyone else to understand what we are saying to them.

As a result, we create a lot of barriers to communication. Due to our overwhelming dependence on our professional discipline-specific language. Even when half the room does not understand what we are saying. So, how can they understand “what we mean”? Also, how can they connect the dots so they understand how “what we do” helps them?

Then again, we create a lot of communication barriers when we do not communicate. At all. Because we get the clear message that we are not as smart as they are. Or as well-educated, well-traveled, or experienced in business, technology, you-name-it. So we become intimidated and we shut up. Rather than taking the risk on ourselves. And saying what we mean and meaning what we say.

Then, professional frustration grows because we cannot understand why our employers cannot “see” how talented we are.

Consequently, we spend a lot of time, like Cinderella, waiting to be discovered. Hidden somewhere within our organizations’ value streams.  Or, perhaps we have dutifully followed the prescribed pathway to organizational advancement. Now, we patiently await “our turn” to manage or lead. Except that opportunity never is offered to us. Why is that?

Because waiting around for our turn to be discovered never quite lets out our light, to shine, for all the world to see. We are passive rather than purposeful. Silent and ambiguous about what is next, rather than articulate regarding our sense of self and purpose.

We leave “us” up to everyone else in the organization to figure out and direct. Rather than our figuring out our professional purpose. Embracing both risk and opportunity. And taking the next steps forward. Together.

The best medicine for professional frustration is to become relentlessly curious.

1. First, question and ask questions.
2. Next, find resources within and external to the organization: other people who see the same things differently that we do.
3. Then, learn how to engage them in a dialogue which is collaborative, instead of combative.
4. My book, Do YOU Mean Business? is a great way to jump start the professional pathway to relentless curiosity.

So we can say what we mean and mean what we say. And so can everyone else seated around that business table. That strategy is all about professional innovation. For everyone seated around that table. And it is the best remedy for professional frustration and stagnation.

Otherwise, we continue to hold ourselves back from becoming who we professionally are meant to be. What is your choice?

Did you enjoy this blog post? Do you find my content relevant and valuable? Cool beans! Then pass it along to the professional associations that you are a member of. I will be honored to customize my keynotes and workshops for your next event! Take the next steps here:

1. Hire me to speak or conduct a workshop at your next corporate or association event.
2. Contact me. Let’s create a One Millimeter Mindset™ program that fits your needs.
3. Subscribe to my blog. Share your email address in the red box in the right column. Never miss another insightful post.

Babette Ten Haken’s One Millimeter Mindset™ speaking programs showcase how  profitable collaboration catalyzes purposeful, innovative professional development, collaboration and business growth.   Her professional speaker profile appears on the espeakers platform. She is a member of SME, ASQ, SHRM and the National Speakers Association. Babette’s Playbook of collaboration hacks, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com.

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