What happens when strategic business stories become too ambiguous to everyone, including you? Yesterday, we explored whether your compelling business stories are too specific and tactically focused. Today, let’s explore what happens when your stories get lost in the strategic clouds.
When strategic business stories are too ambiguous, decision makers ask: “What do you expect me to do with this information?” So, just what happens when they, literally, ask you this question?
Can you do that? Do you know enough about the solution you propose to answer their questions? From their business perspective? Or, from their technical perspective?
Consider that when decision makers ask for greater clarification of your strategic story, they invite you to connect your story to theirs. To discuss theory and distill into a more practical application. Uh-oh. Uncharted professional waters for you?
Yet, at this point in the conversation, many sales people as well as analytical thinkers, become intimidated. Because when decision makers questions ask questions like these, it seems like more of a test of professional competence. Which, in fact, this type of questioning is.
Then again, when you intentionally lead with strategic business stories which are too ambiguous, you create opportunities for yourself. To start asking decision makers more specific and provocative questions. Also, to create a dialogue that builds a relationship.
This back-and-forth dialogue, from ambiguity and theory to specificity and applicability, is the basis of professional collaboration.
What do you choose to do in this type of scenario? Go silent? Tell decision makers you do not know the answer to their question but can ask someone who does?
Or…. Do you ask them why they ask you the question in the first place? Yup, that last response takes courage and confidence to establish clarity of professional context.
Now, most of us have embarrassing stories about getting caught holding the bag with decision makers, telling ambiguous business stories created by someone else. However, others of us intentionally lead with a certain level of strategic ambiguity. Simply to pique the interest of decision makers. So we start to drill down and get to where we need to go, together.
Tired of being embarrassed telling strategic business stories you do not understand? Want to learn how to take strategic business stories from a 30,000 ft strategic perspective down to 5,000 ft and then boots-on-the-ground? Then click here. Set up a complementary call. Move one millimeter beyond what is professionally comfortable today. Get to where you need to go, tomorrow.
My One Millimeter Mindset™ virtual and in-person keynotes, workshops, coaching and mastermind programs translate across strategic communication and collaboration disconnects between people and professional disciplines. Build trust. Retain employees and clients. Optimize strategic business and human capital value in your organizations. Get everyone to where they need to go. Together. One millimeter at a time. My playbook of communication tools and methods, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com. Contact Babette here.
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