“Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!”

I recently sat on a search committee for a senior leadership position.  We interviewed a number of candidates and then narrowed the list to a few more for callback interviews, finally selecting one person. In the midst of those interviews I found within my notes one person who I kept putting quotation marks around the answers given to our questions. I didn’t do this for everyone, just this one person.  It was because the responses were thoughtful, insightful, sometimes witty and reusable in other situations.  This person demonstrated a skill and power in their “comebacks”.  We know people who are gifted in this way.  They have an ability to respond in ways that exude their understanding and depth of knowledge, thereby creating confidence in us that they will do the right thing or can be left alone to handle the situation.  On the other hand, we know those who are not as adept at comebacks and they leave us wondering if they are up to the task and feeling insecure about the outcome.  We can coach and train people to consider what they say before they answer. But, are we willing to take the time to do so?  I would suggest that a room filled with employees who have thoughtful and impacting answers to questions, will be a room of people that any and all of us would want to be among.

I’m not always good at my own comebacks.  I try, but sometimes I really mess up. When I do and the comeback has an edge or anger embedded it can hurt others.  But, I am a verbal reactor (I have a personality scan that pointed it out to me) so I have to be more cognizant of how I respond.  Each time I read the verse above in Proverbs I am reminded that taking the time to find the “fitting reply” is well worth it.  And like those who everyday provide leadership and direction to others through their words of feedback and advice, knowing the right timing can be critical.  Take a moment today to evaluate how our comebacks could be better if only we were to think about the verse in Proverbs before we respond.

Reference: Proverbs 15:23 (New Living Translation)