Communication

How Great Communication Pays Off: Six Signs Your Organization Is Flourishing

How Great Communication Pays Off: 6 Signs Your Organization Is Flourishing

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Part Five in a Five-Part Series on Communication and Cultures of Trust Over the past four weeks, we have explored the subject of communication and the role it plays in building a culture of trust. As we discussed early on, great communication helps leaders create clarity and reduce anxiety, demonstrate empathy and understanding, build strong relationships with employees, and much more. (All of these contribute to trust and, ultimately, high performance.) We’ve also talked about what keeps…
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These Conversation Starters Help Leaders Build Trust

10 Conversation Starters to Help Leaders Build Trust

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Part Four in a Five-Part Series on Communication and Cultures of Trust Welcome to the latest installment in a series on trust and communication. Last week we talked about what leaders can do to create the best odds that employees will “hear” what they’re saying and engage in the conversation. (Click here to review.) This week we’ll share some powerful tactics leaders can use to spark trust-building conversations. A great way to build trust is…
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Creating the Best Odds for Being Heard

Creating the Best Odds for Being Heard

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Part Three in a Five-Part Series on Communication and Cultures of Trust For the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring the relationship between trust and communication. This is one of the central themes of The Human Margin: Building the Foundations of Trust, the new book Dr. Katherine A. Meese and I coauthored. Good communication builds trust between leaders and employees, which is why it is so important for leaders to be well-trained in this area. In last…
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What Keeps Leaders from Communicating Well?

What Keeps Leaders from Communicating Well?

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Part Two in a Five-Part Series on Communication and Cultures of Trust Communication is one of the most powerful tools we have for building trust. As we discussed a few weeks ago—and as Dr. Katherine A. Meese and I talk about in our new book, The Human Margin: Building the Foundations of Trust—trust is crucial in the post-Covid workplace. It’s at the heart of everything today’s employees want. Making sure leaders know what to say and…
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How Good Communication Helps Your Organization Thrive

How Good Communication Helps Your Organization Thrive

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Part One of A Five Part Series on Communication and Cultures of Trust In last week’s column, we talked about why building a culture of trust in your organization is more important than ever. It helps with retention, engagement, and employee well-being, and sets everyone up to do their best work. And as Dr. Katherine A. Meese and I discuss in The Human Margin, communication is one of the best tools we have for building trust. Because good…
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5 (More) Tips for Effective Leadership

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In last week’s column, five leadership tips were shared. There are hundreds of worthwhile tips available from many resources. Many tips depend on the leader’s role, experience, and situation. The tips provided last week and today are ones that fit most individuals in any leadership position. Be interested as well as interesting. Being selected for a leadership role usually means a person is interesting. They can explain things in a way that cause people to listen. They can…
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Employees gossiping about young female colleague

Gossip Erodes Trust, Goodwill, and Peace. Here’s How to Shut It Down.

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Gossip is something I’ve encountered at various times in my life. I am on a journey of learning. When I share about work situations and community items, the fact that they’re based on actual experiences is helpful. It provides me with empathy and understanding. I know how hard being in a leadership role is. In studying recent employee engagement results and reading comments, it became clear there are signs of gossip. In researching materials on…
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Successful millennial businessman boss

It’s Time to Take a Closer Look at Commonly Accepted “Truths.”

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How many times have you heard, or even said, phrases like the following? You must keep your personal and professional life separate. If someone gets complimented, they will get a big head. Too much praise may cause people to become complacent. It is important to balance positive and negative feedback. We may accept them as truths…but are they really? These are a few of the statements that came to mind as I listened to Tom Dahlborg present at EntreCon®,…
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Thank you card in hands

Take Time to Thank the Difference Makers in Your Life

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Who made a difference in your life, or at least in a situation you faced? Do they know it? The response to my column on how small gestures can make a big difference was wonderful. The emails and/or posts with people sharing their stories suggested my own experiences and the experiences of others are much the same. In most cases, the person who made the difference is probably unaware of their impact. It is important…
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Two diverse serious businesswomen talking working

Four Common Phrases That May Send the Wrong Message

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I share “boots on the ground” observations. This week’s column is about some phrases that may seem harmless on the surface, but that may send a message we’re not aware we are sending. A person who read my new book Sundays with Quint, which is a collection of some of my leadership columns, recently reached out. She shared how helpful the book is to her and asked where the content comes from. My first response was “thank…
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