“Unlock the potential in conversations.”
–Margi Bush
This is Day #12 of a collaborative project with my strategic partner, Margi Bush of Wisdom Tree Coaching.
If you haven’t read Day One-Eleven in this series, you may want to read those first. Today we will continue to explore our third theme, Knowledge of Others.
The ability to Know Others requires understanding common dialogue disasters.Merriam Websterdefines dialogue as,“a conversation between two or more persons.”
Think of dialogue as a space in which you meet your direct reports where you embark on a great opportunity for discovery, learning and new insights.
Today, we want to offer up suggestions for getting to know your direct reports by understanding where Dialogue Dies. Here are common dialogue disasters:
- One-Upping (“You think that is something, I….”)
- Comparisons (“Why didn’t you try…?”)
- Hijacking (“That reminds me of…”)
- Interpretations (“Sounds like are being too….”)
When common Dialogue Disasters occur, we lose the ability to create trust and build rapport with others. To avoid the F.A.L.L.into Dialogue Disasters, use these tips:
F:Fully present in the conversation
A:Avoid assumptions by being curious
L:Listen without defensiveness
L:Learn and avoid Dialogue Disasters.
You have 20 days left in 2018, take some time to practice having a more effective dialogue with direct reports and get to know them better.
We wish you a day of Intent Awareness, Innate Curiosity, and Best Choices for Meaningful Change. Now go out there and be a Great Boss.