šļø A fast conversation is a risky conversation š³
- Stu
- Aug 30, 2023
- 1 min read
Thereās an adage in motor racing: āSlow is smooth, and smooth is fastā. The idea is that the fastest lap may feel like the slowest because youāve paid more attention to executing the fundamentals.
The same goes for conversations.
And one of those fundamentals is providing our conversation partner with context.
Context sets the scene. Itās the information at the start that paints the backdrop so that a message can be properly understood. It answers questions like āWhatās this conversation about?ā and āWhy is it relevant to me?ā
Launching into our message without providing context makes our conversations harder š and slower š¢.
While it may feel like weāre slowing down the message to add more context, it makes for a smoother and faster conversation overall. Itās an investment that pays off.
When it comes to conversations: slow down to speed up.
Harvardās Deepak Malhotra provides a helpful angle on this in his book Negotiating the Impossible:
"Donāt just prepare your arguments, prepare your audience for your arguments."
Malhotra recommends that we do this well if we consider what the other must see, feel, experience or understand before they will be truly receptive to our message.
Yes, providing context takes a little more time, but if we donāt want the other person to fumble our request, we will help them catch it ā¾ļø