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conversation matters: Bringing the Flow of Knowledge to a Standstill by Speaking with Conviction. Use Powerless Communication instead.


Stashed in: Conversations, #TED, Influence!, Confidence, Psychology!, Give and Take

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I had no idea:

One way of talking that inhibits the exchange of knowledge is speaking with conviction. That may seem contrary to what we’ve all learned in communication and leadership workshops, where one of the lessons often taught is to speak with confidence- “sound like you mean it”. Yet, as I examine conversations in the work setting, stating an idea with conviction tends to send a signal to others that the speaker is closed to new ideas. When speaking with conviction people sound as though no other idea is possible, as though the answer is, or should be, obvious.

Right.  Definitely inspiring me to speak more tentatively!  Thanks!

Not necessarily tentatively.

Adam Grant calls it "powerless communication":

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