“What’s their story?” …
With one cutting question, my manager exposed the fact a colleague had only one side of the story… their own.
We make up stories every day either to explain our own actions or the actions of others.
What happens when our stories limit us or hurt our relationships?
It sucks. It’s not good for everyone involved.
For example, have you ever jumped to the wrong conclusion about somebody’s actions and later regretted it?
I know I have.
What the experts do is they swap stories.
The trick is separating fact from fiction.
First, they share the facts they know. The more objective or verifiable the facts are, the better. The facts help build common ground.
Next, they share their interpretation of those facts.
This is their story.
Then they ask the other person for their version of the story.
It’s a simple technique, but I’m finding swapping stories is very revealing. Sometimes I’m surprised by my own interpretation of the facts.
Other times, I’m surprised by another person’s interpretation of the facts.
Either way, I consistently find that a thoughtful response is better than an emotional reaction.
The next time you find you just don’t get somebody’s behavior, before jumping to negative conclusions, ask “what’s their story?”
And listen to learn.
You might be surprised – but only if you listen to learn.
Great Lessons Learned from Colin Powell