How to improve your perception skills

And avoid seeing only what you want to see

Photo by Usman Malik on Unsplash

Have you ever noticed how two people can experience the same event yet describe it in completely different ways?

You and a colleague walk out of a meeting, only to discover you appear to have been in a different meeting altogether. Their ‘take’ on the meeting doesn’t resemble yours at all. While they call it out as the worst meeting ever, you couldn’t be happier with how it went.

Recently, I found myself in precisely this situation.

So, how do you handle the post-meeting feedback from your colleague?

First, ask for more information.

Resist the urge to jump in right away.

Take the opportunity to ask for more information: ‘I’d appreciate knowing a little more about how you felt about the meeting we just had.’

It’s the classic ‘Tell me more’ invitation. It:

• gives the other person an opportunity to explore their first answer
• establishes the facts
• provides you with more information, and
• gives you time to collect your thoughts.