Eliminating a Stutter Put Me Back on the Fast Track

We unconsciously bring to our workplace communication habits we learned in school, habits that have long-term effects on our career. One example is of an executive who stuttered.

Our first coaching session went like this:

Pete: Why do you stutter?

Client: I had poor grades in communications and my teachers urged me to speak up; they made me make spontaneous speeches.

Pete: When do you stutter?

Client: I think I stutter when I'm unsure of things I'm talking about.

Pete: Do you mean to tell me the only time you stutter is when you talk about things you're not sure of?

Client: I think so.

Pete: Never do that again! Never respond to any questions about something you're unsure of! We will work on helping you to ask questions for clarification, to help you narrow the question to something you know something about. If you can't do that, indicate you don't have the information now but you'll get the answer for them.


She quickly related to that. Miraculously, from that moment on, she didn't stutter! She just never allowed herself to be placed in the position of responding to something of which she was unsure!

 

 

Additional Coaching Stories:

Sometimes It Pays to be Irresponsible

My Job is to Force You to Perform

I Get Frustrated When My Staff Gives Me Too Much Information

Eliminating a Stutter Put Me Back on the Fast Track

How Authority Affects Our Careers

The Outcome of Our Conversations Depends on Our Objective

How to Respond to "Shut Up and Listen to Me."

Presenting to Senior Executives Made Easy


To order "Be Your Own Executive Coach":
www.amazon.com
Chandler House Press
peter@delisser.com



©2002 Peter deLisser. All rights reserved.