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Differences that change a conversation

What if…

Thinking aloud and thinking before speaking

A director’s loose idea sounds like a decision to the team.

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Samuel floats an idea during a meeting with Amira and Karim.
Amira, Karim, what if we removed the whole welcome screen…?
Amira records the idea as a decision while Samuel is still considering it.
A decision. We start today.
Hmm, or maybe not… We’ll see.
Amira and Karim work late on a new version of the product. WORKING THROUGH THE NIGHT
Samuel, the version without the welcome screen is ready. I reworked every flow.
Samuel is surprised by the finished version, while Amira believes she followed a decision. ONE WEEK LATER
What is this? Amira, I was only thinking aloud.
Samuel, you said it in the meeting in front of the whole team.
Samuel and Amira are frustrated by the result of an unclear message.
Can I not even think aloud any more?
You can. I just didn’t know it was only a loose idea.
Em, the Empatyzer coach
Samuel discovers what he really thinks by saying it aloud. To him, the phrase what if is a sketch he may discard a moment later. The team hears a director speaking, so a loose thought sounds like a decision. Agree on one rule: before work starts, ask whether this is an idea, a direction to explore, or an instruction.