How to Have a Big Rocks Conversation at Work
You’ve probably heard of the Steven Covey meme of putting big rocks in the bucket first, then the pebbles, then the sand. More goes in the bucket that way. But that doesn’t mean that everything fits. We can protect ourselves by having clear ideas of how much time we’re willing to spend at work and then setting boundaries to protect the time that rightfully belongs to us.
Mind the Gap!
The empathy gap is a researched bias that when we aren’t currently experiencing a situation (even if we just experienced it 10 minutes ago!), we dramatically underestimate how much it would affect us. Use these tips to mind the gap and practice more helpful empathy.
Is your organization ready to be open, not confidential, with regard to feedback?
Confidentiality is a symptom of a broken system. However, today’s employees want to work in an environment where they receive feedback. Where they have the opportunity to grow and improve. Where they clearly understand what they can do better.
Working Remotely? How To Stay Connected
Remote work is here to stay. While there are advantages for both the organization and employee to working from home, the remote environment also creates challenges. With every step forward, we also walk away from something that has sustained us. How do we keep employees engaged and connected, when there are not opportunities to see one another on a regular basis?
Forget Feedback…Do This Instead!
Knowing you are about to hear feedback can create a sense of avoidance and/or fear. Even if you approach it with a growth mindset, it can still be tough to hear and process feedback. Simply replacing the term ‘feedback’ with ‘conversation’ may reduce the unintended stress response of getting ‘feedback’ from your boss.
Learning to Listen Deeply
Today’s fast-paced work environments require speed and agility in every conversation—from face-to-face conversations, to emails and texts, and to the virtual meetings we attend. Yet, most companies are sending their employees to meet this twenty-first century challenge armed with dated communication skills and standards. Listening is more than hearing the words correctly. It is also paying attention to what is happening physically and emotionally during the conversation. I call this kind of listening Deep Listening.
A Courageous Foe of Burnout
Around the world, people are worrying about burnout, a state of chronic stress characterized by physical exhaustion and emotional disengagement. Burnout is expensive. It can rob people of health and well-being while it robs companies of productivity.
How Leaders Can Create Fearless Teams
In psychologically safe teams, members can bring their full selves to work because they are encouraged to speak up with any concerns, questions, ideas and mistakes. And when they do this, they are given the benefit of the doubt, which leaves them feeling accepted and respected. In my experience as a leadership coach, I’ve seen three leadership mindsets help pave the way for valuing ideas, inviting questions and honoring vulnerability at work: openness, curiosity and courage.
Beyond The Money: Tips For Retention
Are you spinning your wheels trying to come up with creative, non-monetary, ways to retain your valued talent? If you are, you are not alone! Every month SVC hosts a gathering for our HR partners to connect with one another and learn about a current topic.
