Transcripts

Leslie Yerkes:
When they just don't get it, we always point our fingers at them. It actually is less about them at that moment and more about us and what we are doing.

Organizational consultant, Leslie Yerkes, co-author of the book, They Just Don't Get It…

When people sincerely don't get it they don't need us to talk louder, faster with greater intensity. They probably need us to slow down, to ask more questions, to listen and to let them tell us what they understand through their vantage point.

It's important to understand, says Leslie, that people don't try not to get it.

So, when they're not getting it our forcing them to get it or acting like we're going to force them to get it will only cause them to resist us. What we do either causes people to lean in or lean away.

When people don't get what you're trying to explain you have to ask them questions.

Questions are the key to understanding what they do know and don't know. And that helps you to fill in the right information. After you ask good questions remain open. As they try to explain it the way they understand it don't judge or criticize them. Sometimes if they don't get it just the way we want it, we're critical of them. So, instead remain open and allow them to see it through their lens.

At somethingyoushouldknow.net I'm Mike Carruthers and that's Something You Should Know.