Conversations and Connection
“If you don’t talk it out, you act it out.” – Joseph Grenny
It’s been a while since I read the book Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory. With the release of the third edition in October, Joseph Grenny was on the What’s Essential podcast this week.
The seven principles include:
- Start with the heart – get the right focus
- Learn to look – know when it’s unsafe
- Make it safe – facilitate an open dialogue
- Master your stories – stay in dialogue despite negative feelings
- State your path – share your views persuasively
- Explore others’ path – be a good listener
- Move to action – convert dialogue to results
The assumptions we make, the conclusions we come to before starting, the narrow view we take comfort in shape our world, making it small. Choose your words, listen for understanding rather than waiting to state your case and dare to have conversations to learn, connect and expand.
When we let go of the need to be right, not mistaking opinion for fact, we expand and deepen our relationships and invite civility and connection back into our daily lives. Give your ego a break today. Turn on your empathy GPS. Cast light into the crevices of your thinking to see the same in a new light.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Viktor E. Frankl
