A business reminder from John Mayer

Someone calculated that the average person speaks 400-450 million words over a lifetime. 

When I read that, I was speechless.

(The irony, right?)

Hey, even if that figure is inflated by half, I’ve got questions:

  1. Shouldn't “vocal cord replacement surgery” be more common?

  2. With THAT much practice running our mouths—shouldn’t we be better at business communications?

I think of all the times I’ve opened my big fat yapper and spewed words better kept to myself. Like when:

  • I embarrassed a coworker by mocking one of his quirks in front of a group.

  • I “fired” a frustrating client in a clumsy way.

  • I chewed out a vendor service person for company policies he had NOTHING to do with.

The ugly truth? I often say words i don't need to be saying.

On the other hand, my chatty self also has a history of leaving important things UNSAID. Like when…

  • I didn’t encourage the guy in the next office even though I knew he was floundering.

  • I didn’t stand up to a dysfunctional, gaslighting boss.

  • I didn’t make things right with a colleague-friend (and now that reconciliation is impossible because he has advanced dementia)

Sigh.

All this brings me to the song “Say” by John Mayer. 

Ever hear it?

It's catchy. It’s also a lyrical sledge hammer.

In just under four minutes, John sings the phrase “Say what you need to say” forty times. (That's not a typo.)

“Say what you need to say.”

I mention this because it's advice for the workplace. Consider...

There will be times today when what you need to say is NOTHING.

Like when an irate individual comes at you and your instinct is to power up and meet anger with anger.

Don’t do it. Bite your tongue and zip your lips. Otherwise, you’ll deliver the best speech you ever regret.

Other moments today, you'll need to say SOMETHING:

  • “Can I make an observation?”

  • “I’m sorry. That was my fault.”

  • “I’m so glad you’re on our team.”

  • “What you did there was outstanding!”

  • “We need to talk about…”

  • “You're gonna crush this.”

The reminder we need? 

Today, as you engage with others on the job, “Say what you need to say.”

No more. No less.

(Who knew John Mayer was a business communications genius?)

Len Woods