Category: Difficult Conversations

#TEAMS365 #1638 – Tuesday June 26: Articles on Feedback and Performance Conversations

6/26/2018

As we go to wrap up the month with our focus on feedback and performance conversations, I thought it would be useful to explore several additional resources.

This is an interesting article - Five Steps for Giving Productive Feedback by Scott Halford at Entrepreneur.com - click here. Note Scott’s point of the need for safety in any feedback or performance conversation

MindTools article on Giving Feedback : Boosting Your People’s Confidence and Ability. Click here.

Aaron Levy’s Forbes article on Three Conversations Every Manager Should be Having – Read the article here.

How to Get Started with Continuous Performance Management. Read it here from TLNT.

Mary Cruze’s HDI article “Difficult Performance Convertions: The 5 Ws for Success – Read it here.

What resources would you recommend to others on this topic?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Looking to spark more conversation with your team? Consider the Conversation Sparker(TM) Cards
Set up a conversation about how we can support you and your team best
(416)996-8326

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#TEams365 #1394: 20 Activities for Virtual and Remote Teams #10: Difficult Conversations

10/25/2017

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Many teams struggle with their ability to have difficult conversations. We may call them candid conversations or courageous conversations. Part of the challenge for virtual teams is that fact that team members may not have enough connection with each other, or may not feel that they have high enough levels of trust to have these important conversations.
Key to having difficult conversations is making sure that you:

Specify that it’s an important conversation and clarify what the intent of the conversation is – it is to resolve an issue, flag an issue
Make sure that the conversation is being had at the right time – is it free from distractions
Identify what common ground you both have
Discuss what’s important about the issue
Understand what the other person values (is it having discussions be detailed or quick, pre-planned)

It’s important to take time to prepare for the conversation. There are a number of different approaches and techniques we can use in having the difficult conversations. Key to having courageous conversations is practicing having these conversations so that you can see for yourself what is easy, and what is challenging. It can be beneficial to practice with people who you do usually work with. In practicing having a difficult conversation it may not be the “difficult issue of the moment”, however, going through the movements of having the conversation can provide valuable learning in terms of the other person’s style and what they find important.
It's also important to take time to have the conversation. What's going to create a positive environment to have the conversation?

Here’s a short exercise to start working around difficult conversations:
Preparation needed: Create a slide with a range of photos or icons people can select from.
Time needed: 20 - 45 minutes (depending on team size)

Show the slide with icons/images people can select from (see example)
Round #1 - Ask people to share one at a time:
Which photo or icon did they select? What does that represent for them around difficult or courageous conversations?
After you have heard from everyone, ask “what have you learned about others in hearing about their selection. Note this down for yourself. Invite people to share if they would like.
Round #2 – Ask people to select another icon which represents the stance/approach they would like to take going forward. Again have them share, which icon they selected, and have them share one thing they will practically do/have conversation around.
This is a high trust exercise and takes time to have the conversation. Ensure that you build in enough time and invite people to share at the level they feel comfortable.
As you consider courageous conversations in your team – what are they? What does the team need to have these more regularly? What frameworks are you using as a team to create a common language and approach?

Have a great Wednesday,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats.
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations - Conference calls? Webinars? Virtual coaching work? Pick up a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me! Chapter 7 goes into many more activities for you to undertake with virtual and remote teams.

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#TEAMS365 #1638 – Tuesday June 26: Articles on Feedback and Performance Conversations

#TEams365 #1394: 20 Activities for Virtual and Remote Teams #10: Difficult Conversations

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