Nothing Else to Add

No subtitle needed.

How often, when you get to the discussion portion of a meeting, do people take turns re-stating feedback/thoughts/ideas that have already been voiced by those who spoke before?

I've been thinking about this a bit lately and wondering why we feel the need to do this.

Perhaps we feel repeating something allows us to add our own slight spin to it. Perhaps it's a way for us to sound smart because we're harnessing the ideas shared before we spoke. Perhaps we feel compelled to reiterate what's been shared to lend validity to what was said.

But there's another option - one that doesn't involve us repeating and re-stating. We can simply say that we have nothing else to add.

In doing so, we remove the bias of wanting to add our spin (if it's not needed). We actually do sound smarter, because it shows we have been listening and understanding the other points of view shared before. And we underscore the validity of what was shared in fewer words - we're agreeing without confusing.

So when you find yourself agreeing with the discussion and it's your turn to speak up - "I agree. Nothing else to add." goes a long way.

Thanks for spending time with me in my workshop,

Eric