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Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. was poet, among other things, who said, “Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.”

I love this quote because it reminds me of the value of people who wait to speak until they have taken in all the information available and decided they have something worthwhile to contribute. For those who remember the old EF Hutton commercials, it’s kind of like that: when EF Hutton talks, people listen.

One of the mistakes new leaders often make is to share their opinions early rather than waiting to hear what others have to say. Rushing to prove how smart you are or how much you know often has the opposite effect: better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.

If you’re interested in communication coaching, let me know.