Learning to “Leave the Bone Alone”

I was reading an article in a very prestigious Jazz music magazine, and the quote from the article and a very famous jazz artist was………” these young guys, they can play the X%@& out the horn, they know all the modes, they know all the chords, they know how to manipulate everything. They can play high, they can play low, and they can play fast. They have all of these techniques – what they can do is amazing. But the only thing they can’t do is leave the bone alone.”

If you are a jazz musician, this translates into “know when to quit playing, shut it down and listen, and let the music and musician speak.”

When did you last need to fill the silence during a tense discussion? How well did you fight the primal urge to fill in the blanks of every delayed, ponderous response? Did you want to provide all the answers and bark out some brilliance? I know I sure have!

Less is more!

Silence is better!

Asking more questions works… even though it seems like it takes foorreevvveerrrr.

Self-discovery is much more powerful and long-lasting than spouting out a list of solutions.

For me, a huge lesson learned the hard way. So color me humbled and energized about the next time I choose to listen patiently, coach, and mentor instead of telling.

Coach Dave

 

10 CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BUSINESS OWNER

LEARN MORE about the book or fill out the form below to download it.

Follow Dave
Dave Schoenbeck

Dave Schoenbeck is a professional business and executive coach who translates complex business methods, processes, and strategies into actionable plans to dramatically improve financial results. Read more about Dave here.

Share
Published by
Dave Schoenbeck

Recent Posts

Key Consumer Behavior Trends Shaping the Market

Learning how to identify trends in consumer habits is an invaluable skill for a business…

3 hours ago

Here’s Why Entrepreneurs Need to Understand Customer Insights and Analytics

I’ve always championed going beyond customer satisfaction to achieve customer delight. When we try to…

1 week ago

Effective Crisis Management Strategies for Entrepreneurs

How well do you handle emergencies as a business owner? An adaptable entrepreneur considers crisis…

2 weeks ago

Successfully Navigating Supply Chain Disruptions

Business owners can face unprecedented disruptions to everyday processes when the future feels uncertain. An…

3 weeks ago

How to Create a Customer Referral Program for Your Small Business

Customer referrals are indispensable if you want to grow your customer base organically. A referral…

4 weeks ago

Tips for Maximizing Marketing ROI for Your Small Business

Why is marketing return on investment (ROI) so difficult to measure? The truth is that…

1 month ago