We don’t even know what we’re saying

Have you ever experienced this?

You can have five people talking about some topic, and another person can listen — from a particular point of view — and point out a unifying thread that the people in the discussion aren’t even aware of.

For example, let’s say five managers are discussing operational issues, and the marketing guy listens in. He could pick up themes and ideas that the managers aren’t thinking about. They might not even be aware of them.

I think a lot of our lives are that way. We do and say things and we aren’t even sure why we do or say them, unless and until somebody points them out and explains them to us.