Approaches to Challenging Conversations

 

There are different ways to approach differing viewpoints or challenging conversations. Some ways simply fan the flames and make things worse. A more productive approach can change the direction of a discussion and win people over. Consider these statements as great starting points...

·         What if we approached this from another angle?

·         Here’s how this could solve your problem . . .

·         The opportunity here is . . .

·         What would make this easier for you?

·         If we do this, you’ll be much closer to your vision.

 

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We Choose ...

Every day we make choices, we choose to:

• be patient or impatient
• be kind or unkind
• actively listen or passively wait to voice our view
• act with humility or behave arrogantly
• be selfless or selfish
• be forgiving or resentful
• be honest or deceitful
• be loving or not to love
• smile or frown

Notice that I stated, “we choose”.  I did not say we “can” choose.  We do make these choices every day, whether consciously or subconsciously, intentionally, or unintentionally.  How do you choose?

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Aim Lower?

 

Aim Lower?

Tough circumstances often call for smaller, less lofty goals.  A lot is made of setting stretch goals both personally and in business.  The theory being that they encourage overachievement and far-reaching success.  In good times, with momentum and confidence that may be true.  In more challenging times, when we feel overwhelmed, such lofty goals just add to that feeling.  The problem is that the dread is often worse than the dreaded.  We can dread a goal or task so much because of its perceived enormity that we never get started.  The size of the goal can actually cause paralysis, and no action is taken at all.  Smaller, manageable, less daunting goals can be confidence builders.  They can be the antidote for the paralysis.  This is certainly true in difficult times.  Stretch goals may not be appropriate in all circumstances and can prove demoralizing. 

It may sound strange to say but…  Pick one thing and aim lower this week.

* Some of this content was taken from the “Made to Stick” column in Fast Company magazine written by Dan Heath & Chip Heath.

 

Never Stop Learning

 

Never Stop Learning

Do you think people really mean it when they say that they learn something new every day? They should. Too often we treat the learning process as something with a specific end. We tend to say we "went to school" or "received an education". That sounds like we think we are done learning! Often in fact we hardly begin learning about life until after we are finished with our formal education. Perhaps we need to think of our education as an ongoing process not something that we have completed in the past. We really can learn something new every day and we should.