Wait - Go Back

Why asking to “go back” is an important act.

One of the seemingly scariest things to do in a meeting is to raise your hand and ask the presenter to go back.

There can be many different forces that hold us back: the fear of looking like we aren't comprehending, the fear of asking "the dumb question", the fear of disrupting the presentation or putting the presenter on the spot, etc.

But saying "Wait - go back" is actually an act of bravery.

I was reminded of this recently by my 3 year old daughter.

We were reading a story and were about halfway through when she stopped me and asked me to go back. She took the book and proceeded to turn back multiple pages. She recalled a word on this page that she was unfamiliar with ("corridor"), and asked me what it meant.

While I was reading the next pages, she was still stuck on the page with "corridor". She was trying to put the pieces together, but she was unlikely hearing the story I was reading since she busy trying to decode the unknown word.

"Wait - go back" allows you to get on the same page, which allows you to fully engage with the subsequent content.

"Wait - go back" allows you to ensure you are getting the level of understanding the presenter seeks to impart to the group.

So next time you need clarity, don't silence yourself. Raise your hand and say "Wait - go back"

Thanks for spending time with me in my workshop,

Eric