Every day we have conversations with people who are trying to tell us something we already know. Most of the time we interrupt them in mid sentence and complete their thought so we can move on to something else that we think is more important.
There are sometimes when this is very appropriate, especially where timing is extremely important and we must make decisions quickly. However, the vast majority of times our stopping them is totally inappropriate for a variety of reasons.
First of all, we really do not know for sure all that they were going to say. Many times they do know something we need to hear but we are too impatient to wait and listen. Also, we have this need to impress people with our knowledge and experience to the point we come across as rude and insensitive.
In a business environment we feel justified in cutting to the bottom line for productivity sake but we fail as leaders to see the value in allowing other people to participate in the process. If you only see your team as a means to your predetermined end, then in reality they are only attending this meeting for their information and not for their involvement.
The willingness to listen to someone regardless of the value of the information communicated is an investment in them as a person. The agenda is no longer what can they do for me but how can I help them develop.
There is a time to add value and genuinely help someone by what you know but only after they have had their opportunity to shape the conversation first. Nobody likes someone who always thinks they know it all. Let’s be sure we are not that someone.