Does this ever happen to you?You have a meeting with a colleague or your management team. Everyone nods in agreement. You leave thinking the way forward is clear. And yet, a week later, the same issue is back on the table and nothing has shifted at all. You might find yourself wondering: “Why aren’t they […]
Why your team says ‘yes’ but doesn’t follow through Read More »
In our previous two blog posts, we’ve looked at the importance of having a clear purpose and clear objectives for your meeting, as well as ensuring time and attention are spent on the process as well as the content. Today, we will delve deeper into process management, particularly in relation to how people interact with
Creating a Psychologically Safe Space for Effective Meetings Read More »
From the hum of bustling team huddles to the high-stakes decisions made in boardroom discussions, meetings serve as the lifeblood of any organisation. They provide a collaborative space where progress is assessed, goals are set, and crucial decisions are made. Yet, we’ve all experienced the frustration of sitting through an ineffective meeting—a room filled with
Top Tips for Structuring an Effective Team Meeting Read More »
“I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant” (Alan Greenspan, American Economist) It’s so easy to mishear and misunderstand what others are saying to us and vice verse, particularly when tensions are starting to rise. Here’s a simple
Don’t Play Chinese Whispers In Difficult Conversations! Read More »
Ever feel you’ve hit a brick wall (or an iceberg!) when trying to get your point across to someone? No matter what you say they just won’t listen. Here’s another way to think about how to handle this situation… Video Transcript Mary Rafferty here, in today’s video I want to share an analogy that can
Trying To Get Your Point Across But They Won’t Listen? Read More »
Video Transcript Hi, Mary Rafferty here. In this video today I want to talk to you on the topic of dealing with difficult people. This is a very broad subject and there are so many variables that will influence how best to respond or deal with any particular situation where you’re experiencing another person as
Listening is a much-lauded but greatly under-used skill – and not because we don’t know how to listen well. Instead, it’s that so easily fall into the trap of trying to ‘fix’ the situation rather than taking the time to let a person talk (and think it) through and in doing that, find their own way
How Do You Listen If Someone Is Upset, Annoyed And Off-Loading On You? Read More »
A common question in ‘Difficult Conversations for Managers’ workshops is what to do when it feels like you are in one of those fruitless dialogues, a circular argument, repeating the same thing without achieving anything.The other person isn’t listening or taking on board what you need them to hear or understand. A recent example was
Going Around In Circles In A Conversation? Circular Arguing And How To Break That Cycle Read More »
Think about the last ‘difficult’ conversation you had to have with someone. Did you find yourself using some version of the phrase ‘Yes…but…’? You were trying to get your point across but they didn’t seem to be listening. Despite all your attempts to clarify where you were coming from in a reasonable and rational way,
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” ~ Anaïs Nin The above quote neatly captures the psychological phenomenon, that while there is a factual and concrete reality out there, none of us have a truly objective view. There can be many different perceptions of the same situation. As an
Relationships That Endlessly Frustrate: Can The Dynamic Be Changed? Read More »
