Decades of research tells us that about half of organisational decisions fail to achieve their goals. They either unravel after a meeting has ended or have unintended consequences. Many meetings don’t end in decisions being made. As we all know, waiting to see what happens is often not an effective way to make a decision. Not to decide is to decide.
The news that King Charles has cancer has prompted messages of support from across the world. Rishi Sunak announced it has been ‘caught early’, and both Joe Biden and Donald Trump sent their best. Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly expressed their good wishes as they start to work…
Management culture often makes a mess of meetings. Group think means conviviality trumps people telling the truth. Managers are disconnected from the people they serve and make decisions in a vacuum. When mistakes are made, the ‘blame game’ starts rather than managers seeking to learn from what has gone wrong. These dynamics have all played…
“In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change“ Reinhard Stelter Our inability to talk with one another is at the root of all conflict. Whether it’s a war between nations, a fight between departments or a stand-off between CEOs, the common factor is an unwillingness to meet the ‘other’ and to be changed by…
“Between what is said and not meant, and what is meant and not said, most of love is lost.” Gibran, K. (1923) The Prophet It hardly needs to be said that the world needs better dialogue right now. Without good dialogue, love is lost between partners, teams, organisations and nations. With fruitful dialogue, collaboration replaces ruthless competition or entrenched conflict….
Open communication is motivating for groups who need to innovate. To stimulate this, leaders in these disruptive times need a communication competence that fosters dialogue. As I said in my previous post: Leading change through dialogue is challenging, but not nearly as hard as trying to promote change without this. There are many obstacles to…
Leading change through dialogue is challenging but not as hard as trying to lead change without dialogue. To innovate during these fractured times, leaders must engage hearts not just minds, walk their talk, turn activists into allies, and have a bold vision without being domineering. With this approach, transformational change becomes possible. Authentic dialogue among…
Dysfunctional team dynamics are particularly problematic in today’s highly interconnected world. The problems facing leaders are too complex for any one person to solve. Challenges such as developing a purpose-driven, sustainable business strategy, cleaning up a supply chain and recruiting the best talent in a global marketplace are not limited to the borders of a…
When it comes to talking together, emotional reactions scupper a difficult conversation. Whether tempers flare or walls of silence go up, defensiveness derails.
Having been a consultant psychologist for nearly 20 years, I observe many leaders and managers facing communication challenges. Here are some of the comments I’ve heard from clients over the years: “We can talk but we can’t dialogue” “We tend to talk about each other rather than to each other” “All we do is talk!”…
Avoiding or botching difficult conversations bites into a business. One client I worked with came up with three types of meeting where good conversation wasn’t happening. All of these dysfunctional meetings cost a business as problems fester, decisions unravel and mistakes are made. Can you relate to any of the following? Are there other unproductive…
For me, it’s having three things in place. A meaningful challenge to meet. A sense of community. An energising conversation that gets me thinking. More on this below. Here in the northern hemisphere, as autumn arrives, it’s a good time to reflect. What strengthens your leadership? What nourishes your wellbeing? How can you sustain your…
Articles about purpose, teamwork, and authentic dialogue from Sarah Rozenthuler and Bridgework Consulting. 20 Apr 2021: Got the Covid Blues? How to energise your people to do great work Over a year into the global pandemic, many of us feel the weariness of multiple lockdowns. Being cooped up at home and at arm’s length from…
An earlier version of this article was published on FemaleFirst 9 April 2020 Photo credit: Clive Sherlock Having a meaningful conversation can be challenging at the best of times. When we want to speak about something that matters – whether with a family member, colleague or friend – many of us withdraw rather than talk….
‘What is the most important leadership skill of all?’ is the title of a post I uploaded earlier this week. Based on the comments people have made, I’ve expanded the actual phrases you might use to show that you’re really listening to someone. ‘It seems like…’ has been shown to be a power phrase: the…
Colleagues in dialogue. Photo credit Clive Sherlock Senior leaders typically spend up to 80% of their time in meetings. This calls for “black belt mindfulness”[1] or advanced attentiveness, as there can be so many demands on our attention even in a single meeting. Whilst deepening your presence can be challenging, the results can be transformative….
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