How to Set the Table for a Courageous Conversation
Did you know that nearly 4 in 10 employed US workers say that their manager fails to frequently engage in honest conversations about work topics? And 3 in 10 say that their manager doesn’t encourage a culture of open and transparent communication?
I’m Dr. Elisa Glick and I help leaders build trust in the workplace, one courageous conversation at a time. Welcome to the third installment in my Courageous Conversation series! Every Monday in July I'm posting tools and strategies for navigating courageous conversations. Today, let's discuss how to set the table for a courageous conversation.
The conversation that you’re uncomfortable having is probably the conversation you most need to have. But how? “Setting the table” for a courageous conversation requires clarifying the agreements or expectations for the conversation itself.
The Conditions for Courageous Conversations:
✴️ Prepare. Take responsibility for your own emotions and examine your assumptions and beliefs before any courageous conversation.
✴️ Listen actively with an intent to learn, especially across difference. Active listening is the foundation for all courageous conversations.
✴️ Take your time. Pause for reflection. Don’t rush to quick solutions. Cultivating space for reflection during discussions or taking a pause are also useful tools for facilitators.
✴️ Normalize multiple perspectives. Recognize the challenges that individuals are facing by resisting a hierarchy of issues (the belief that some issues are "more important"). If you observe a lack of ability to agree about realities, definitions, or facts, naming this can be a powerful first step towards creating shared meaning.
✴️ Maintain confidentiality. This is essential for everyone's psychological safety.
✴️ Stay with empathy. Use empathic listening techniques to build trust.
✴️ Move beyond right and wrong. Most of us can usually see the problems with other people's perspectives, but it's much more difficult to see the limitations of our own. Try to create spaces to explore better or different answers, not "wrong" answers.
✴️ Stay engaged. This means remaining involved in the dialogue intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.
Would you like to bring these important conversations to your team, managers, or leaders? Message me and let’s discuss how I can help you cultivate connection, safety, and belonging in your organization.
