Waiting to feel ready is costing you more than you think.
Especially when it matters most.
Years ago, an EVP asked for my thoughts on a communications issue.
I said I’d think about it and follow up.
Fair, right?
After the meeting, my manager pulled me aside.
“When a senior leader asks you a question, they expect a point of view in the moment.”
That stuck.
Because waiting has a cost:
1. You don’t come across as strategic
2. You get overlooked for bigger opportunities
3. And the team misses what you could have added
So why do we hold back?
↳ We second-guess our thinking
↳ We don’t have a perfect answer
↳ We assume everyone else is more certain than we are
(They’re not.)
Here’s what works instead:
Say this:
“Based on what you’ve shared, my initial thought is we should … .”
Add a relevant example.
Then close with:
“I’ll follow up with more detail this afternoon.”
You don’t need a perfect answer.
You need a point of view.
What do you say when you don’t have a fully formed answer?
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