W.I.F.L.E Not Waffle

You know that moment at the start of a meeting when the room feels a bit… disconnected? People are present in body, but their minds are still in their inbox, the school run, or the last Zoom call.

And yet… we dive straight into business.

No pause. No check-in. There is no real sense of where people are before we start asking them to perform. That’s where a little tool called WIFLE comes in. It stands for “What I Feel Like Expressing.”

It’s simple. At the start (or end) of a meeting, you invite everyone to complete that sentence:

“What I feel like expressing is…”

There’s one golden rule: no one interrupts, comments, or fixes. It’s a space for honesty, not advice.

You’d be amazed at what happens next. Tension drops. Connection rises. People breathe again.

Sometimes it’s “I’m feeling a bit under pressure today.” Other times it’s “I’m proud of what we just pulled off.” Whatever it is, it’s raw, authentic, and real. And real always beats polished.

I’ve used WIFLE in coaching sessions, workshops, and even with myself on a Monday morning. It creates a pause. A space to tune in rather than power through. Because leadership isn’t just about what we say, it’s about the space we create for others to be heard.

So, before your next meeting, take thirty seconds to ask yourself…“What do I feel like expressing right now?”

Then ask your team the same. You might just find it opens up the best conversation you’ve had in weeks.

Have a brilliant week!

Dave Rogers – The Business Explorer

If you’re looking for shortcuts, shiny objects, or silver-bullet promises, I’m not the right person for you. But if you like grounded advice, better questions, and a spark of curiosity… you’re in the right place.

If this struck a chord, then check out my Substack, where I dive deeper into the subjects I write about here.

Watch my TEDx Talk: The Art of Asking.

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