The Career Whispers

The Career Whispers

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The Career Whispers
The Career Whispers
🤫 Whisper #7: I propose X. Anyone disagree?
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🤫 Whisper #7: I propose X. Anyone disagree?

Proposals vs consensus seeking.

Coach Erika Gemzer's avatar
Coach Erika Gemzer
Nov 28, 2023
∙ Paid
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The Career Whispers
The Career Whispers
🤫 Whisper #7: I propose X. Anyone disagree?
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Hey, it’s 📣 Coach Erika! Welcome to a 🔒 subscriber-only edition🔒 of The Career Whispers. Each week, I tackle reader questions about tech careers: how to get one, how to navigate them, and how to grow and thrive in your role.

A great deal of research and expertise goes into every post on The Career Whispers, and I hope you’ll spend the two-latte equivalent to feed your brain and upgrade your subscription. If you do, you’ll get access to this and all 3-7 monthly TCW posts, across these thoughtfully crafted career experimentation series:

  • JOB SEARCH DIARIES

  • THE WEEKLY WHISPER

  • DEBUGGING YOUR JOB SEARCH

  • MVIP (MINIMUM VIABLE INTERVIEW PREP)

  • CLEVER GUERRILLA

  • BONUS EDITIONS and more (see all the paid subscriber benefits here)

Let’s dive in ↓

Whisper #7

I propose X. Anyone disagree?

Work is often a lowest-common-denominator (LCD) setting, where we all adjust our thinking and behaviors (consciously or subconsciously) to meet others where they are.

When it comes to decision-making, LCD can tank decision efficiency as it seeks to find consensus amongst a group of people who have different thought patterns and incentives in the situation.

If you're the one with the most at stake, it behooves you to cut through LCD thinking and get to a strong decision, faster.

a low-stakes experiment for you

In your next meeting where you notice the group approaching decision-making with a consensus-driven approach, shift into a different decision style, perhaps try:

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