3 Tips to Cure Foot In Mouth Disease
I was reminded recently of a surprising conversation I once had with a seasoned CEO of an Austin, TX based entrepreneurial start-up.
She had shared with me that she often found it difficult to “know when to speak and when to shut up during development meetings and conversations with investors.” It seems she has a tendency to ramble on, chime in on every comment made by others, and crack awkward jokes when she becomes anxious. She wasn’t sure whether it was nerves, or some “neurological dysfunction.” She wanted to avoid “Foot In Mouth” disease.
How to Avoid “Foot In Mouth” Disease
The good news is that she possessed the self-awareness to recognize this unattractive, and sometimes, unprofessional trait. I wish more professionals were this evolved. While I can’t address the possibility of a medical problem, I was reminded of some wisdom a friend shared with me about how to conduct oneself during meetings and professional conversations. Are you ready? If you blink, you might miss these three simple, yet powerful questions to ask yourself during meetings:
- Does what I want to say need to be said?
- Does what I want to say need to be said right now?
- If it needs to be said right now, does it need to be said by me?
That’s it. Just the way I like it. Simple. Poignant. Effective.
