Silence in meetings
Translated from the French original.
My friend Charles from Switzerland took the initiative of pointing me to this article.
It gives me plenty of ideas
1. First of all, I think of a lovely video by Simon SINEK, about speaking last.
2. I also think of an answer given to a journalist by Carlos, the great boss of the car industry.
When we have a meeting on a topic, I try to stay quiet during the presentation and then hand out the floor. It’s hard, but I’ve learnt to manage myself. At the end, I reformulate and I make the call, with my own weighting — debatable, of course.
Carlos TAVARES – CEO PSA & Fiat
3. I think of all the introverts who know how to stay silent and who, called upon at the right moment, can deliver a brilliant idea in a few words.
4. I think of the phrase of Mathieu BEUCHER, the CEO of Klaxoon.
The spoken word is not democratic.
5. I think of this phrase that I believe my brother and I invented one day.
When all is said and all is done. Far more will have been said, than will have been done.
6. I think of this phrase whispered to me by a friend and company director a few days ago.
Louis, you’re lucky to be able to support so many CODIR and COMEX. Because observing a meeting is getting access to the innards of an organisation.
7. I also think of this phrase from Elon MUSK, the boss of Tesla and SpaceX.
I didn’t hear from you today during our meeting. Did you really need to be there?
8. I think of this phrase attributed to the Dalai Lama.
He who listens today will tomorrow be the one who is listened to.
9. I think of some of the 12,000 meetings I’ve had the chance to facilitate, during which I would have done better to keep silent.
10. Finally, I think my New Year article will be devoted to silence in meetings.
Thank you very much, Charles.
