The challenge of speaking out
Ayesha’s voice sounded tight as she spoke. “I’m struggling and I wonder if you can help? It’s my boss. He speaks at 10,000 miles an hour and I can hardly…
Not to decide is to decide
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.
Slay the silence
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…
Stop the sabotage
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…
Being in the room together
“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…
Disagreeing agreeably
“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…
Lead change through dialogue (Part 2)
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…
Lead change through dialogue (Part 1)
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,…
How to hold Space
Holding space includes and goes beyond ‘psychological safety’. This refers to an environment in which team members feel that they can take interpersonal risks without it being a career-limiting move; they are still respected and accepted.
How to move from monologue to dialogue
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,…
How to define and refine your purpose
Purpose powers individuals, teams and organisations. People go the extra mile, feel proud about their contribution and want to give their best. In a climate of ‘conscious quitting’, making work…
Turning down the heat
When it comes to talking together, emotional reactions scupper a difficult conversation. Whether tempers flare or walls of silence go up, defensiveness derails.
Why we need to talk (and how we can)
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…
Could a conversation actually make matters worse?
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…
How to live your best life
As the days draw in, I’ve been taking some time to reflect on what makes life enjoyable and engaging. Recent walks with family and friends as the leaves turn have…
What anchors you in these stormy times?
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…
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