After identifying a potential opportunity recently, I wrote an email to a few folks with the phrase – “I wonder if we should do xyz.”
I got feedback from someone who works closely with me that my use of “I wonder” could be interpreted as passive aggressive and inauthentic. Their advice was – “Don’t say I wonder if what you are really saying is This is what I think we should do. Say it as it is.”
It was great feedback because that wasn’t my intention – my subconscious instinct was to try to be polite. But, I could see why the attempted politeness could be perceived as inauthentic. Say what you mean – as often as possible.
Well-timed feedback is a wonderful gift.
