When saying less is more: Here are five situations from Tamara J. Erickson, a McKinsey Award-winning author, when saying less would have been more. What would you add?
Describing one more product feature, after the customer’s facial expression indicates that she has already decided to buy. By describing an additional feature, the only thing you can possibly do is trigger an objection the customer had never considered.
Beginning any meeting or speech by letting your audience know that you are poorly prepared or prepared at the last minute. At a minimum, this demonstrates a lack of respect for the importance of the event or other participants. In most cases, you also decrease the authority of your conclusions. My partner did this, I wanted to shoot her.
Asking a question that shows you have absolutely no idea about something you really should understand. I know, people often say there’s no such thing as a dumb question. But, frankly, that’s just . . . well, dumb. Sometimes it’s much wiser to do some research (or ask a friend) to get grounded, and then go back with “smart” questions. Wish someone had handed me the manual with that rule.
Trying for a second laugh after your first spontaneous comment proves amusing. (Think of this as the George Costanza rule for any of you who are Seinfeld fans.) It almost never works. Quit while you’re ahead.
Assuring people things won’t happen that people never imaged would. Like, “Rest assured this plane has sufficient fuel to get us to our destination.”
Shhhhh . . .
I can’t pretend I know much about the War in Iraq, even though I’ve read Richard Clarke’s Against All Enemies, and Bob Woodward’s Plan of Attack… Well, I had to read the latter for a class in college that I really can’t remember. I even read Michael Gordon’s Cobra II – yea, obviously on occasion I have too much time on my hands.
Still there’s definitely one thing that gets me – the cost of the war.
What would I spend my tax dollars on if I had the choice?
Cost of War: 720 Million/Day
How would you spend it?
FOR THAT PRICE, YOU COULD PROVIDE:
34,904 FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
1,153,846 CHILDREN WITH FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES
1,274, 336 HOMES WITH RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
95, 364 HEAD-START PLACES FOR CHILDREN
6,482 FAMILIES WITH 3 BEDROOM HOMES
12, 478 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
423,529 CHILDREN WITH HEALTHCARE
163,525 PEOPLE WITH HEALTHCARE
84 NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
EVERY DAY
Source: Based on the work of nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and colleague Linda Bilmes – The Cost of War Project.