Archives for communication

Happy Harry

Happy Harry

March 1, 2022

We often judge other’s actions based on how WE would intend those actions, if we were that person. These words have been a game changer in our communication trainings and during coaching sessions with individuals. Understanding the power of this single sentence is often the difference between effectively working together vs. frustration, understanding one another vs. aggravation, creating friction vs. giving grace. I hear it all the time from individuals who are frustrated by the way a co-worker, boss or direct report speaks to them, interacts with them or directs them. So often, and many times unconsciously, we determine the
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Once – I say it and hear it all the time.

Once – I say it and hear it all the time.

January 19, 2022

Professionally: Once I get through this week Once we get a bit of breathing room Once this project is done Once we get through to the end of this year And personally: Once I get the house organized Once the credit cards are paid off Once we get to our summer vacation Once the kids are older The destination is always different but the sentiment is the same –  we must endure our current situation until some distant point in the future when things will be better and we will find happiness, joy, contentment or peace. While in some respects
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Ouch, that smarts! The agonizing tale of a referral ball dropped and lessons learned.

Ouch, that smarts! The agonizing tale of a referral ball dropped and lessons learned.

November 18, 2021

Here is the situation: I gave a high-octane referral to a colleague about two months ago. Picture yourself giving a referral to someone in your network, someone you trust and admire.  The person to whom I gave the referral (we’ll call her Jennifer) is a client in rather urgent need of professional advice outside of our scope of expertise, so I referred Jennifer to a professional I have known for several years and who has helped some of our other clients. First warning sign: my colleague (receiver of the referral – we’ll call him John) did not follow up in
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What if we are both right?

What if we are both right?

October 19, 2021

  What does this age-old image bring to mind? If you are like most people who attend our trainings where we use this image, you are likely to say, perspective. This image represents that we all have our own perspective on situations, and we must remember that while interacting with others. My response to that, is yes, you are half-right. This image is so powerful but for a reason that to me, goes beyond simply understanding that we all have different perspectives. The REAL power of this message is that sometimes…we are both right. All too often, when engaging in
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“I am starting to wonder if she can’t do it or if she just doesn’t care.”

“I am starting to wonder if she can’t do it or if she just doesn’t care.”

August 30, 2021

Teamwork. Good communicator. Adaptable. Forward thinker. Active listener. In our line of work, we hear these words all the time. They are the words we have come to use so frequently when talking about how our organizations and teams need to operate, we could list them in our sleep. In coaching conversations, I hear clients say, “I told my direct report that I need her to be a better listener, but I continue to have others on the team come to me and say that she still is so hardheaded in meetings.” When working with leaders I hear, “In our
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