A controversy in the news today concerns the publicist for the ACT Party, John Ansell, who sacked himself because the party wouldn’t use some of his copy in their advertisements. Leader Don Brash said he was tempted by some of the statements John Ansell used, but in the end toned them down. John Ansell claimed the whole party are cowards because they won’t speak ‘the truth’ about what is going on.
Without getting into the details of the controversy, here are two things we can learn about workplace communication and community dialogue from this incident.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: Crucial Conversations, Emotion, Conflict Resolution, Difficult Conversations, Don Brash, Feedback, John Ansell, Listening, Perspective, Relationships, Role Models
“Why is she telling me this again, I got it the first time?” Steve thought to himself as he suppressed his annoyance with Jan and wondered how he could finish the conversation quickly.
Steve didn’t realise that he was the one who was prolonging the conversation. He was sure he was listening to Jan. He made eye contact with her and gave her his full attention. He understood clearly what she was saying about the details of the new website and yet somehow she kept repeating herself. Perhaps she needed to go on a communication course.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: Emotion, Conversations, Difficult Conversations, Difficult Internal Customers, Feedback, feelings, Listening, Thriving Under Fire
I have just returned from Christchurch where I presented a free seminar for businesses and organisations on dealing with angry people in post earthquake Christchurch.
Participants from many sectors recognised the same stresses in their staff and customers.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: customer service, Emotion, Upset People, Difficult customers, Distress, Feedback, Natural Disaster, Reactions, Stress, Thriving Under Fire
A story in the Wellington Weekend paper told of a participant from the TV show New Zealand’s Next Top Model who spoke openly about other contestants. She became very unpopular with the other models because of the way she delivered her forthright opinions of them. (She was popular with the TV network because she provided the drama to make their programme interesting.)
She said she was only saying to people’s faces what everyone else was saying behind their backs.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: Crucial Conversations, Friends, TV, Difficult Conversations, Difficult People, Feedback, Role Models
How to give good feedback
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: Colleagues, Difficult Conversations, Feedback, Transactional Analysis