Andrew Dietz is Founder and President of Creative Growth Group, Inc., a business development firm that exclusively helps professional service organizations sharpen growth strategies, enhance client development capabilities, and implement marketing and business development initiatives.

The language we use frames the collaborative culture in our firms.  Jim Signorelli CEO, ESW StoryLab said, “One of our firm’s maxims is the “Maybe or the What If” rule.  Maybe and what if are welcoming words.  They invite discussion as opposed to putting it out there and stating, “I believe,” or, “I think.”  Instead try:  “What if you look at it this way?”  or, “Maybe what we’re trying to do is this…” That language allows people to give and take much more readily than they might otherwise.”

This post is part of a series recapping the event, Creating Collaborative Advantage: How To Get Fiercely Independent Professionals To Collaborate For The Benefit Of Each Other, Their Firm and Their Clients hosted by SilverEdge, along with its partners Deltek and Creative Growth Group. Stay tuned for more advice from the event.