by Michelle Mazur, Ph.D.
There’s probably one of these requests sitting in your inbox right now. I know there is in mine.
“Hi Michelle-
I’ve read your blog since the beginning. I love what you do, and I want to be a public speaking trainer just like you. I’d love to take you out for coffee and pick your brain about how you setup your business.
Cheers,
Well-intentioned Information Seeker”
Sujan Patel wrote in Inc. that requests to pick your brain “basically tells whomever you’re sending a message to that you want to take up his or her time without offering anything of value in return.” He argues that this phrase should be eliminated from email all together.
In a perfect world, no one would ask to pick your brain, but until that time arrives it can be a struggle to figure out how to handle this question.
As women, we feel conflicted by these requests. On one hand you want to be helpful and feel flattered, but on the other hand you’re busy and have other priorities to attend to.
What’s a girl to do? Follow this three step plan for handing the “can I pick your brain?” requests.
Step 1: Does the request energize or drain you?
I love to be helpful. I love chatting with people, but the first thing I do when I get an email like this is ask myself if the request energizes or drains me.
If this person is someone who I know, have cultivated a relationship with over time, or someone I want to connect with, I get excited. Enthusiasm for the request always leads me to a definite yes.
But if the email is from someone I don’t know, I feel drained. If a requests drains my energy, it always a no.
Do your own energetic check before responding. If the thought of spending time with the person makes your excited, say yes. If it leaves you feeling tired before you even start, say no.
Step 2: Respond Yes or No on your own terms
If you’re response is a yes, say yes on your own terms. If you don’t want to meet the person for coffee because you’re schedule is tight, invite them for a coffee date over Skype. If they want an hour of your time, but you only have 30-minutes to spare, then tell them that. Give them what you can, not what they think they need.
You’re providing them with your brain, your talent, and your ideas, the least she can offer in return is to show up on your terms.
If no is the way to go for you, remember no is a complete sentence. You don’t have to explain why. Tell the other person you’re flattered they reached out, but your answer is no.
Step 3: Even if you’ve said NO – you can still give value
It means that I’m not down with spending my free time talking 1:1 with you about business.
When I say no, I point the person to one of my blog posts that addresses their issue or tell them about a book I read that might help.
If what they want to pick my brain about is something I get paid for doing, I let them know that I consult on this very topic, and would be happy to work with them.
A no doesn’t have to be the ending. It can be the beginning of a relationship where there is an equal exchange of value.
There you have a simple 3-step process to handle those brain picking requests with ease.
Do you have a process you go through when deciding if you want someone to pick your brain? Let me know in the comments below.
Michelle Mazur, Ph.D. is the CEO of Communication RebelTM, a boutique communication consultancy specializing in the content development of presentations. To steal a lyric from a terrible Bryan Adams song, she firmly believes “Everything you do. You do it for the audience.” Armed with a Ph.D. in Communication, she has helped hundreds of business leaders and entrepreneurs design and deliver presentations from the audience’s point of view. Her speakers have spoken in front of world leaders, First Ladies, and have raised three times the amount of money than expected for charities.
She believes every presentation should leave a lasting impression and the last words of your presentation are the most important real estate in your speech.
She is also author of the Amazon best-selling book, Speak Up for Your Business: Presentation Secrets for Entrepreneurs Ready to Tell, Sell, and Compel and 3 Word Rebellion.
Michelle lives in Seattle with her adoring husband, 2 obsessive felines, and huge collection of Duran Duran memorabilia. You don’t have to fly to Seattle to hang out with Michelle. Come visit her on the blog for all things public speaking, hit her up twitter @drmichellemazur.
2 Replies to “3 Steps to Handling the “Can I Pick Your Brain?” Request”
Neena
Hi Michelle – 3 great points! Sometimes I try to talk myself into something because I want to be nice – but then I end up resenting the whole interaction. Got myself into such a pickle next week – but we learn from our mistakes, right?
I will use your strategies to kindly yet firmly assert my own agenda.
Thanks!
Kim Harrod
What an incredibly practical and sanity saving approach! We’ve all been on both sides of this quandary, and prioritizing our own time can be a challenge. Applying a “yes” or “no” rule of thumb and then moving on (sans guilt) is something we can all use in our daily lives – business and personal.
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