February 13, 2023

What Everyone is NOT Saying | WT #39

Not too long ago, I was in a meeting which I felt went really well. At the end, I asked the fifteen team members to write down, on a sticky note, their answer to a simple question: “What’s on your mind?” As a result, I discovered several helpful nuggets that would significantly increase the value of our next meeting:

Several people were concerned about, and named, specific road blocks to our team’s success, of which we were not aware.
One person felt disengaged.
One person noted something we accomplished, that we hadn’t even realized!

There is magic when you ask someone to write down what’s on their mind. There’s a tendency to be honest, and share what they’re NOT saying. How would knowing what everyone is NOT saying help you? You CAN know. All it takes is a couple sticky notes and a single question.

This article was last modified on February 13, 2023 .

About the author

Darren Smith

Darren Smith is Co-Founder of the Authentic Leadership Institute. He is a native Texan and a graduate of Dallas Jesuit and Texas A&M University. Over the past 25 years, Darren has visited 35 countries and led 100 strategy programs. He and his wife have five children.

The People You’re Not Seeing | WT #161

Every decision reaches further than we think. While leaders naturally consider clients, teams, and stakeholders in the room, the greatest impact often falls on those who never have a voice. This Weekly Truth explores the second step of principled decision-making: identifying every stakeholder—including your family, your community, and even your own integrity.

Define the Real Problem | WT #160

The best solution is worthless if it’s aimed at the wrong problem. Leaders often invest time, money, and energy fixing symptoms while the real issue remains untouched. This Weekly Truth explores why principled decision-making begins by defining the real problem—and why the answer almost always leads back to people, trust, and human dignity.

You're invited to the Rise to Greatness! Executive Forums—a premier networking coffee series for C-suite leaders, executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and educators who seek more than just business as usual.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Back

Back

Back

Back

What Everyone is NOT Saying | WT #39

Darren Smith

You may also like

The People You’re Not Seeing | WT #161

Define the Real Problem | WT #160

You're invited to the Rise to Greatness! Executive Forums—a premier networking coffee series for C-suite leaders, executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and educators who seek more than just business as usual.