Would you be open to…
After a while habits & communications are like wallpaper; you don't notice them,
In my work I’ve had an itch about a pattern & trend in founder & business leader behaviour. But it’s so common that most others I mention it to just can’t see it. I’ve come to understand that it’s not just one behaviour but something known as “a register”.
For example…..
“Would you be open to...” is what they say/write when they mean I want.
“I’d love to explore...” is what they say/write when they mean I’ve decided.
“Just checking in...” is what they say/write when they mean this matters.
“I hope this makes sense...” at the end of something they say/write that made perfect sense.
Every one of these sentences serves the same purpose.
Asking permission the founder has already earned.
They soften the ask so that the person on the other end feels big and important and the founder feels small.
In short, it’s the language of ‘The Applicant’.
When you see it you can’t unsee it…..it’s oozing out of every prospect email, investor update, and team message the founder writes.
Most founders think this is professionalism. Some might call it humility or staying respectful.
No, it’s none of those. It’s the exact behaviour that trains buyers, investors, and team members to treat the founder as a candidate rather than ‘The Source’. And then, over months & years, the founder wonders why the calendar hasn’t filled with the kind of work they want and can do.
Reason: The founder trained the market to see them that way, one sentence at a time.
Have a think on this question for the week ahead: what am I asking permission for that I’ve earned the right to just do?