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Mentoring to hear what you say, to know what you think!

Guest post by: Nicholas Fraser

Article Overview: I recently read in a book a quotation variously attributed to E M Forster and others “How can I know what I think, until I hear what I say?” Managing Director’s endeavour to direct their staff and their company to move forward and would do well to read this quotation and think hard on it. How can others do what they want when they do not understand what the MD thinks or knows? And how can they know that if the MD doesn’t that have that clarity.

Mentoring to hear what you say, to know what you think!

Mentoring to hear what you say, to know what you think!



I recently read in a book a quotation variously attributed to E M Forster and others

“How can I know what I think, until I hear what I say?”



Managing Director’s endeavour to direct their staff and their company to move forward and would do well to read this quotation and think hard on it. How can others do what they want when they do not understand what the MD thinks or knows? And how can they know that if the MD doesn’t that have that clarity.

The key to understanding what you think is actually listening to your

v Management and employees

v Partners (business and personal)

v Customers or potential customers

v Competition,

v Advisers

and then finally to

v Yourself.

When you have done that you should state clearly either verbally or in writing what it is you think.

However, the space to do that is usually never there! For as we all do know (and here I am saying it) the MD and his team are too busy focused on dealing with the day to day activities of making a living to stop, listen and think.

But this very focus and drive to do things is probably the biggest business failing. Business mentors like me force Directors and members of their team to stop, listen and think. To take note of what is going on about them, to listen to what they are thinking and then setting it down.

So make a date in your calendar and name it your listening day. Especially listening to yourself and what you are really, really thinking. And also give me a call and ask me to listen, to be that external ear and restate clearly just what it is you are saying. By hearing me repeat what you are saying and thinking you will be much clearer in understanding yourself and so better able to giving direction to your team.

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