The benefits of authentic dialogue in international settings
“Real dialogue is where two or more people become willing to suspend their certainty in each other’s presence.” David Bohm, physicist. It was a pinch-me moment to be in Toronto…
Turn tension into triumph
With the UK general election only a week away, our news streams and TV screens have been full of fractious discussions and accusation slinging. “Politican’s staff room squabbles” is how…
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 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,…
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…
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…
Bridgework Insights: Access the latest articles
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…
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