Aitch Are Gives You...
The International HR Forum's third Annual Do conversation saw Sara Hope and Emily Cosgrove from The Conversation Space facilitating a conversation about "Conversational Wisdom" ®, which all made for a thoughtful - yes, you guessed it - conversation.
As the second wave is upon us, and restrictions start to tighten, the art of leading through difficult times becomes that much more difficult. Key to success in this area is embracing the power of conversation. Leadership is all about the conversation. - It creates meaning. - It promotes empathy. Why is this so important, arguably more than ever before? - There's lots going on. - Covid has changed the nature of work. - There are increasingly blurred boundaries between home and work. - Leaders don't have all the answers. - Leaders have to support others who don't have all the answers. - We need to provide a safe space for emotions to be expressed. - Talk about how we are feeling, and listening to others who may be struggling. - Build a foundation of trust as new ways of work emerge. What makes for a good leadership conversation? "Conversational Wisdom" ® is based on: - Being aware. - Being skilled. - Being human. Based on this extensive research: https://www.theconversationspace.com/our-thinking/mastering-conversation/ So why is something that sounds so simple, actually quite difficult to do? - It needs courage and curiosity. - It requires the asking of good questions. - Because leaders feel they need to have an answer, and yet are unwilling to admit that at times they don't actually know. - It requires time to listen effectively, and yet time is one thing a lot of leaders don't have. - Effective listening isn't just hearing what is said, but also understanding what is not said, the body language, etc. - As the mindset is quite often corrective or competitive, rather than curious. This is particularly an issue in today's more remote environment: - People can hide. - It is more difficult to pick up on non-verbal cues when you are not in-person. - There has been an increased pressure on time. We split up into breakout groups to explore how we could become more "conversationally wise", and reconvened to share a range of ideas, which included: - Being prepared. - Being brave. - Sharing what we notice. - Being brave. - Checking our assumptions. - Exposing our own vulnerability. - Recognizing different experiences. - Active listening. Other resources that were shared during the session: The importance of touch: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5bytcsqlyK7R6X0DTZBDL3z/seven-amazing-things-about-our-sense-of-touch The work Sherry Turkle has done on technology, empathy and ethics: https://sherryturkle.mit.edu/ An example of a "work/life manifesto": https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Gg5e5lvlpW9eT7I7ch7bP30A1o6w54-osCifStoXkRw/edit?usp=sharing Which "Inside Out" character are you? And yes, I am Joy, before you ask :) https://ohmy.disney.com/quiz/2015/06/21/quiz-which-inside-out-character-are-you/ Interested to learn more? Connect with The Conversation Space (@convospace), Sara (@internalcoach) and Emily (@internalmentor) on Twitter, check them out on LinkedIn, or head on over to their website (theconversationspace.com). And as a parting note, remember the wise words from Margaret Wheatley: "Human conversation is the most ancient and easiest way to cultivate the conditions for change" That's all for now, I'm off to practice on my cats, see you next time!
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AuthorSenior HR executive who has seen it all. On a mission to simplify the world of work. Archives
May 2020
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