Author
Susan Cain
1 reading card from 1 book · 2012.
1 card
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking · 2012
Whoever speaks first and loudest does not automatically have the best idea.
Red, in Erikson's description, is the person who asks «what's the bottom line?» within the first minute. They decide quickly, accept conflict as a tool, prefer asking forgiveness to asking permission and judge a meeting by what was decided in it. Their strengths are the courage to decide and the energy to see a project through. Their blind spots: they listen little, can come across as arrogant or harsh, and mistake speed for quality. Under pressure Red becomes more authoritarian: takes control, raises the voice, cuts the discussion short. Yellow is also action-oriented, but through people. Optimistic and persuasive, they turn out ideas on a conveyor belt and fill a room with enthusiasm. Their strengths are motivating others and creativity. Their blind spots: they promise more than they can deliver, forget details, lose interest once the fun part is over and often talk more than they listen. Under pressure Yellow defends through words: explains, jokes, shifts attention or blames circumstances. Susan Cain's line is a useful warning to both: whoever talks most in a meeting is not necessarily the one who is right. In practice: with a Red, lead with the conclusion, then two options and their costs; do not walk them through the history and do not take the direct tone personally. With a Yellow, leave room for the relationship and the ideas, then write down yourself, at the end, who does what by when — otherwise the enthusiasm evaporates. If you are one of the active colours yourself, the best exercise is to speak last and count to three before answering.
“There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.”