Before your next meeting, close your eyes for 60 seconds and mentally walk through the ideal outcome. What does success look, sound, and feel like? Write down one detail that surprised you.
i2 Insights: Skill Categories
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Say “Yes, And…”
When a colleague shares an idea, resist the urge to improve it from scratch. Instead, say “Yes, and…” and add one building block to what they’ve already started.
Ask What’s Behind the Ask
The next time someone makes a request or states an opinion, ask: “What’s driving that for you?” You’ll often discover the real need is different from what was said.
Edit for Clarity, Not Completeness
Take a document, presentation, or email you’re working on. Remove 30% of the content. Does the core message actually get clearer? If yes, send the shorter version.
Hold the Tension a Little Longer
When your team starts gravitating toward a “good enough” compromise, ask: “Are we settling, or are we solving?” Give the real tension five more minutes before resolving it.
Hold Your First Instinct Lightly
When you feel drawn to a solution in the first 5 minutes of a discussion, write it on a sticky note — then set it aside. Spend the next 15 minutes exploring at least two alternatives before you look at it again.
Challenge With Curiosity
Pick one idea in a meeting that everyone seems to agree on. Ask: “What would need to be true for this to fail?” Frame it as genuine curiosity, not opposition.
Stay in the Search
The next time you feel the itch to decide, pause and say: “What haven’t we considered yet?” Give yourself one more round of exploration before committing.
Name Your Biggest Bet
Write down the one assumption your current project depends on most. Now ask yourself: “If this turned out to be wrong, what would I do differently?”
Go Where You Wouldn’t
Seek inspiration from a completely unrelated field. Read one article, watch one talk, or visit one space that has nothing to do with your current project. Note what sparks.