Brainhack

42 Just Say It

“Examine what is said and not who speaks.”

Arab proverb

Have you ever had the experience of explaining a problem to someone and before they even say anything, something clicks and you realize what the solution is? Communicating your problem out loud is actually a very powerful tool that can often help you understand what's needed without the person you're talking to saying anything.

The Nodding Teddy Bear

A few of the benefits of verbalizing your problem are that it:

1. Makes it clearer

   By stating your problem out loud you are forced to mentally organize all the information you have regarding the problem. It also separates the problem from any emotional mental chatter about your ability, deadlines, anxiety of possible failure, etc.

2. Simplifies the problem

   Assume the person you are explaining the problem to has little or no knowledge of the subject. This forces you to think about what the essence of the problem is and makes you explain it as simply and clearly as possible.

3. Helps you think about the problem, not the solution

   Instead of spending all your energy focusing on what the solution is, you can focus purely on the problem. This takes the pressure away from looking for an answer. It can also help you in accessing different or overlooked information.

4. Uses more of your brain

   Saying the problem out loud engages many more areas of the brain than merely thinking about it. This creates more chances of new connections being made. That's why it also works so much ...