Communication
Communication Reflections Continued
Earlier this month a few strategies were shared to impact your words in written communication. Tell the truth – be honest and clear, not to mislead. Get to the point – bottom line or essence of your message. Sensitive and valuing people’s time. Just ask! First rule of being a coach. Just ask for what…
Read MoreCommunication: What You Know and How to Impact with Your Words
We are all writers today. We fling out words into the universe through text, email, Facebook and more. Even people who hate to write realize they have to do it, because the reality is you will need to write a note of thanks, send a text to your new teacher, respond to your boss or…
Read MoreClear is Kind – Unclear is Unkind
A second concept Brené Brown shares in her Dare to Lead book is the notion of “clear is kind – unclear is unkind”. This one resonated deeply with me as I see the effect of lack of clarity and uncertainty in our work on a regular and consistent basis. Let’s see what Brené has to…
Read MoreConnecting to Your Client
This month we’re centered on three important behaviors of a coach as she meets with her client in a coaching conversation, virtually or in person. Earlier, we considered important ways for a coach to prepare for a coaching conversation. Today, let’s zoom in on an important way to be in the coaching conversation. It begins…
Read MoreConverging: Three Ways to Prepare for the Conversation
When coaching another person, be it a colleague or a client, all committed coaches desire to provide a safe and confidential space, some may even call it sacred, where the coach and the client join together in an open and honest manner, free of outside distractions, and ready to be different as a result of…
Read MoreChanging Our Hardwiring
This is the time of year where conversations are happening with great frequency. Summative conversations, evaluative conversations, planning conversations, hiring conversations, etc. Lots of talking, lots of meetings. You want this time to be an investment and bring about the outcomes you desire. How are you wanting to be intentional and have powerful impactful conversations…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Conversations Are You Having?
Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement, by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres classify four different kinds of conversations. All interactions either add value or they devalue people and situations AND all conversations are either inquiry-based or statement-based. When your questions devalue a person or situation, those are sometimes called…
Read MoreThe Power of Conversations
Conversations are a critical part of leading and leadership in schools – for teams, for planning, for motivating and inspiring results and actions. Most leaders don’t think about “having powerful conversations” as a critical skill. Just imagine the impact if everyone on your staff became exceptional at having meaningful conversations. In our RCG seminars we…
Read MoreProductive Conflict – Essential for High Functioning Teams
Very few people would say, “I’d like to have more conflict in my life, please.” Additionally, few teams would request additional conflict between and among members. Yet, as Patrick Lencioni author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (2002) says, “All great relationships, the ones that last over time, require productive conflict in order to…
Read MoreTrust and Vulnerability Go Hand-In-Hand for Success
If you have ever participated in a “trust fall” you have a very good understanding of how trust and vulnerability go hand-in-hand. Having experienced this sensation, I can personally attest to the accuracy of the statement. You climb up about six feet and have people, some smaller in size than you say, “Come on! We’ve…
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