Motivational

Rule 73: Know when to keep your opinions to yourself

November 24, 2016

Controversial Nigeri’a Ekiti State Governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose

It’s
very easy to have opinion. We all have
them. Trouble is knowing when to keep
them to yourself and when to express them.
The reason most people don’t know when to shut up is that they think
their opinion:

·
Counts
for something

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

·
Has
an audience

·
Is
important

·
Will
make a difference

·
Will
make them seem clever/intelligent/effective

·
Will
win them approval/love/attention.

All
of these, of course, are the wrong reasons for expressing an opinion. The real reason for expressing an opinion is
because you have been asked to. If you
are asked, then say what you think. If
you ain’t been asked, then shut up.

Your
opinion should almost have to be dragged from you. What you have to say is important and you don’t
squander your opinions willy-nilly.

“THE REAL
REASON FOR EXPRESSING AN OPINION IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO”.

You
don’t run off at the mouth. You don’t sit there spouting opinion. You do:

·
Have
an opinion ready for when you are asked

·
Learn
to express that opinion clearly and precisely and accurately

·
Always
make it sound as if your opinion isn’t just an opinion but the actual solution
that will be implemented.

The
way to make your opinion seem like an opinion and more like an accepted fact is
to express it as a fact. Don’t say, ‘I think we should’, instead say, ‘We should’. Don’t say, ‘In my opinion the ZX300 is a good machine’. Instead say ‘The ZX300 is a good machine’.

So
avoid:

·
I
think

·
I
feel

·
In
my opinion

(Excerpts from THE
RULES OF WORK by Richard Templer Read “The Science of Conciliatory Diplomacy” from The Rules tomorrow on Asabeafrika)

Rule-to-Work Series