Matt Berthot  

I was having lunch with a very established author. He’d written a lot of books. He asked what I was working on, so I started telling him about a new idea.

Before I could finish, he cut me off, told me I needed to read his book, and started talking to somebody else.

I remember thinking, what the heck just happened? You asked me.

I felt defeated for a second. I don’t know what he meant, but I know how I felt in that moment.

Here’s what I took from it. When somebody shares an idea with me, I want to be able to say, “Tell me more about that. Why do you think that? Maybe you can teach me something.”

To me, humility is, “I have value, but I still value others.”

You’ve got experience. You’ve got answers. Okay. Can you stay curious when somebody brings you something that doesn’t fit what you already know?

That’s a question I need to keep asking myself, too.

Having smart people in the room gives you a chance to learn. You still have to be willing to say, “I might be missing something.”

At your next meeting, let somebody finish their idea. Before explaining your position, ask, “What led you there?” Listen to their reasoning. Ask what they’ve seen or learned that you haven’t considered.

Maybe the idea needs work. Talk through it. Test the assumptions together. And if you discover they’re right, let that change the decision.

“I hadn’t thought about it that way. Let’s try it.”

That person just taught you something. You still have your experience. You still have your value.

I want to remember there’s a person attached to the idea. Somebody who cared enough to speak up.

Give them room to share their voice. Give yourself room to learn.