A leader I admire once transformed our meetings with one rule:
“Speak only from what you’ve done.”
The room got quieter.
Then, it got smarter.
Fresh perspectives matter, but there’s a difference between contribution and clutter.
𝗢𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗨𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘀
☂️ The right one, at the right time, offers shelter.
Too many open at once?
They block the view and trip everyone up.
The Meeting That Broke Us
📍 Scene: Program review. The CEO asks:
“What risks do we face?”
Before the Program Head could answer, five voices jumped in:
• “From a marketing lens…”
• “I think we should…”
• “Well, in this book I read…”
The person who actually ran the program? Silenced.
Result? Seven “solutions” to a problem only one person understood.
The project? Derailed.
The 3-E Rule (My Speaking Filter)
Before I speak, I ask:
✅ EXPERIENCE — Have I done this before?
✅ EXPERTISE — Am I qualified to advise?
✅ EXECUTION — Am I responsible for the outcome?
Score less than 2 out of 3? I listen.
The Uncomfortable Truth
Most meeting dysfunction comes from people speaking beyond their earned authority. We confuse having thoughts with adding value.
But when you speak from experience, people lean in.
Your words carry weight because you’ve earned them.
When Your Opinion Actually Matters
1. You’re asked directly
2. You’re accountable for the outcome
3. You’re preventing a mistake you’ve made before
Sometimes the smartest thing you can say is nothing at all,
until you’re the right person to say something that matters.
🗣️ Your Turn
When did silence serve you better than speaking?
P.S. I usually offer my opinion once and only if asked.
Unless it’s my kids. They get a lifetime supply of my unsolicited opinions. 😉
