In the past, workplaces were heavily hierarchical and it was expected and accepted that managers were direct and overt in giving instructions and critical feedback. As we have moved to ‘flatter’ structures and a more empathetic and collaborative leadership style managers are now very hesitant to have these discussions. ‘In the past’ workplace roles were very clearly […]
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We all have a bias towards certainty, some more than others. For many, certainty means security and comfort. It means not having to acknowledge the fear we find in the prospect of change. It might mean we have to let go of how hard we’ve worked to reach this point of comfort and to keep […]
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A comment from a workplace manager: “I can say for sure that quite often my day starts fine, but I am regularly pushed below that line because of other people’s behaviour, and it’s fine to say don’t engage in it, but it’s what most of my job is; dealing with people!”Heard this before?Then it’s time […]
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When good intentions don’t always deliver good outcomesIn mediation, I often hear one or both parties saying at some point, ‘I thought I was doing the right thing’ or ‘I thought you would prefer I did…’ or ‘I was just trying to do this in a way you might appreciate’.What I am hearing is that […]
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By the time employees return to the same worksite, this may be not just a ‘well worn’ cliché but a disregarded one. Catch phrases are memorable and repeatable but do they evoke the intended action?When people are fearful, feeling even slightly threatened, uncertain or in any way unsafe, what is considered ‘good’ for the community […]
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Even though lockdown conditions are beginning to ease, it’s clear that many organisations won’t be returning to ‘business as usual’ any time soon and will be continuing with some aspects of remote work. There are many upsides to this but one area that organisations need to focus on is employee relations, and ensuring that they […]
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In a recent Forbes article Tracey Brower made ‘5 Predictions About How Coronavirus Will Change The Future Of Work’. One prediction is that ‘Your boss and teammates will be more empathetic about your work-life’. Brower claims, ‘After having been home so much….managers and colleagues will have new respect for life’s demands, and appreciation for all-things […]
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In the first part of this blog series the setting for the discomfort felt by both the manager (speaker) and the staff member (listener) was explored. Often the discomfort felt by the manager is momentarily acknowledged then put aside as though it shouldn’t happen and it is weak or poor management to feel this way. However, […]
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Holding a conversation for which you believe the content will upset the listener evokes the concept of a difficult conversation. Difficult because the speaker often assumes the news will be difficult for the receiver to hear. And so the conversation also becomes labelled as difficult for the speaker to know how best to frame what […]
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I’ve had the pleasure in recent weeks of travelling from France to Spain, via the Pyrenees, on the back of a Ducati motorbike. It’s been a journey with breathtaking sights and experiences, and while I’ve spent most of the time in holiday mode, I’ve occasionally had some business-related insights and learning experiences that I captured on […]
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