I’ve been writing about self-awareness and inner monologue, and how we can improve our connections to others through better self-knowledge. This next exercise builds on the previous exercise where you simply write down your inner monologue. It is a little harder because it requires you to pay attention to your beliefs and write them down….
It’s not always easy to uncover our blind spots and gain real self-awareness. One way is to write down your self-talk, recording the exact words you use. Do this several times over the course of a week, and you’ll uncover a lot about how you think and perceive your world. The exercise is even more…
Our inner monologue runs nonstop, whether we pay attention to it or not. It is a valuable source of self-awareness and a key to knowing our blind spots. Some call it self-talk, mind chatter, or inner voice. It often tends to be negative and judgmental. Even though our inner monologue filters, interprets, and gives meaning…
Can we REALLY defeat skepticism? As I shared in my last post, skepticism is a logical and rational challenge of ideas to get to the reality or truth about a specific issue. But the typical impression we have of skepticism pertains to a close-minded, doubtful, and hard-to-convince mentality. This often stems from a fear of…
In my previous post about leading through the use of inquiry, I described four kinds of inquiry: Open Diagnostic Confrontational Process-oriented I suggest that leaders and managers who ask open questions with genuine interest and curiosity will benefit by building better, more trusting relationships with the people who work for them. There are other types…
In my recent posts I’ve been sharing ways leaders can engage their employees by asking questions and listening to their answers. In today’s achievement-oriented culture, displays of knowledge are admired. As Dr. Edgar H. Schein told a team of academic interviewers for the March 2011 edition of Academy of Management Learning & Education: “The whole…
In my previous post, we began exploring managing people by using the art of inquiry. In that vein, if you’re a boss, then asking questions of the people you’re in charge of has If you’re a boss, then asking questions of the people you’re in charge of has definite advantages over telling them what to…
After sharing my views on managing conflict (check out the previous posts here, here, and here), I thought you may appreciate some practical tips for dealing with conflict at work. I’ve found many of these tips useful, no matter what kind of organization, or what kind of position you’re working in. In the work I do…
In my experience working with organizations, there are three factors behind most organizational conflicts: Differences in behavior and communication styles Differences in priorities and values Workplace conditions, including poor communications from leaders Some personalities just seem to clash. It’s important to determine why two people rub each other the wrong way. Do they have opposing…
In my previous posts here and here, I’ve been praising the character trait of humility, particularly when it comes to leadership. It’s a trait praised by author Jim Collins in his classic book Good to Great. According to research on companies that sustain success over time, humility is a defining character of Level 5 leaders….