In his excellent book Listening with the Third Ear, the analyst Theodor Reik makes the point that sometimes people who seem to be seeking advice or actually looking for permission to do something they’ve already decided to do. You will know that’s happening when someone who comes to you with advice already has a solution, […]
Communication, Listening
In the days way before cellphones, if you wanted to call someone outside of your own area code you would reach out to an “operator” at the phone company for assistance. You would pick up the phone, dial zero, and an operator would pick up. They had a few options for how to place this […]
Communication, connections, talking
For years I’ve had a personal “Board of Directors.” This isn’t a formal group that has scheduled meetings. And (so far) none of them has asked to be paid. But they are close friends and trusted colleagues with whom I share important questions or problems. Each one of them has a professional specialty, and I […]
Communication, Personal Board of Directors, professional circle, social circle
A friend posted recently on twitter that she and her husband text from room to room so they don’t wake up their six-month old baby. In some companies, people who work in adjacent offices send texts or e-mail instead of getting up and walking next door or even picking up the phone. While texting and […]
Communication, face to face, leadership communication
Comedian Georgie Jessel said “the human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public…” And if you’re in a leadership position, chances are you find yourself addressing groups often, from the board of directors to your employees and their families at the company picnic. […]
Communication, Confidence, Public Speaking
High performance teams aren’t just a group of experts. They’re talented people who work collaboratively and enable each other to be better. And for a team to reach this level of excellence, a strong degree of trust between/among individuals and across the entire team is critical. But as we all know, trust takes time and […]
Communication, Company Culture, High performance, Innovation, Relationships, Trust