Inspire Insight
A moment of insight unlocks life.
You can’t force insight. People find it when conditions are right.
Turn conversations toward transformation.
5 Pillars of Insight
#1. Summarize
People need to know they matter. Plan what you say to people. Summarize their words. It’s evidence their words matter.
People relax when they feel valued.
Power Tip: Two or three summary sentences is enough. Then move forward.
#2. Allow Correction
Hang on to assumptions loosely. After reflecting someone’s words ask:
- “Am I getting this right?”
- “Do you think I’m hearing you?”
- “What am I missing?”
Benefit:
- Openness leads to honesty.
- Honesty leads to insight.
- Insight leads to progress.
#3. Pursue Revelation
People discover what they think when they talk. They think differently when you reflect their thoughts back.
Sometimes their beliefs surprise them.
- Patterns emerge.
- Priorities show up.
- Clarity grows.
Spoken thoughts feel tangled. Reflected words feel clear.
Power Tip: Don’t speak conclusively. Ask, “What comes to mind when you hear this back?”
#4. Shift Gears
Provide space for people to reflect on their own thoughts. Don’t rush to the next topic until people think about what they’re saying.
“Let’s pause for a second. I hear you saying…” Use their own words.
Don’t solve the wrong problem by rushing to solutions.
#5. Feel Emotion
Reflect the feelings behind the words. Help people appreciate their own experiences.
Don’t analyze. Don’t diagnose. Just notice.
“I’m hearing some disappointment.” Complete the sentence with an observed emotion: positive energy, frustration, hope, confusion, or discouragement.
Say, “This seems important,” when you hear strong emotion.
Don’t steal conversations by saying, “I know how you feel.”
They say, “I’m doing everything I can, but nothing moves.”
You say, “It sounds like you feel stuck.”
Endings that Work
- “What matters most right now?”
- “What would progress look like?”
- “What’s next?”
How can leaders help others find insight?
The Single Most Transformative Force in Leadership
The Leader as Coach (HBR)
How can leaders help others find insight?
Blaise Pascal once said, “People are usually more convinced by reasons they discover themselves than those discovered by others.”
So, ask the people you are trying to influence questions like these:
• What do these facts mean to you?
• How do you feel about…?
• What impact did this experience have on you?
Help people reach their own conclusions about the ideas you are presenting.
People change themselves. The sooner we appreciate that, the better for everyone. We can coerce conformity, but transformation is freely embraced. I also like, “What are you learning? And what will you do differently next time?”
Wow, this is revolutionary and takes so much pressure off to change others.
Now, if we can stifle our urge to fix people…
This is an excellent article.it has a wide base. Not only a transformative strategy but a perfect feed back guide. Thank you do mych
feedback = saying what you see.