The Glasers
  • Home
  • Courses
    • About
    • Membership
  • Ways To Learn
  • Trainer Training
  • Results And Testimonials
    • Results
    • Testimonials
  • About Us
    • Meet The Glasers
    • Meet The Team
  • Contact

4 Ways to Turn Discord at Work Into Great Decisions

2/27/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
While disagreeing may be uncomfortable, research tells us that diverse thinking is far more likely to lead to progress, innovations and breakthroughs than “nice” conversations where people hide what they really think. 

But how do you foster productive debate on your team? Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Shane Snow, author of Dream Teams: Working Together Without Falling Apart, offers four tips:

  1. Remember that you are all on the same team: Remind everyone they are teammates, not adversaries, and there is no “winner.” The goal is not to convince people that you are right, but rather to find the best solution, and all viewpoints are welcome.
  2. Keep it about facts, logic, and the topic at hand: Facts are different than interpretations of facts so stick to what is known. If the debate veers into other topics, acknowledge that and reset. Remember: “The debate is not about who cares more, who’s loudest, or who’s most powerful.”
  3. Don’t make it personal: To depersonalize disagreements, agree that there will be no judgments or name calling, and that no one will lose face for changing their mind. “Instead of questions like ‘how could you believe that?’ or ‘why can’t you see…?’, try posing ‘what’ questions instead, such as ‘what makes you feel that way?’ or ‘what has led you to that conclusion?’”
  4. Be intellectually humble: Listen to and respect every person and viewpoint. Be curious. Admit when you realize you are wrong, and graciously cheer on other ideas, different from your own.

How do you keep a debate on track when it seems to be veering? To join the conversation, click "comments" above -- we'd love to hear from you!

Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

0 Comments

3 Ways to Influence at Work Without a Title

2/20/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
But how does an informal leader motivate colleagues to support their initiatives and adopt their ideas?  How can anyone become a go-to person that others look to for guidance and advice?

Writing in the Harvard Business Review, career and workplace journalist Rebecca Knight, outlines a plan for anyone who wants to promote an initiative.  First, create a map of colleagues related to the issue you want to tackle.  Second, craft your message with a concise elevator pitch.  Third, cultivate allies by asking for advice and incorporating it.  And lastly, develop your expertise by staying up-to-date on your topic.  So, even if you’re not a formal leader at work, you can influence others with these 3 action steps.

3 Action Steps To Influence At Work:
  1. Cultivate personal connections with colleagues so they assume positive intent when you want to influence them.
  2. Listen first. Make it clear to colleagues that you value and use their opinions.
  3. Develop expertise by attending conferences or taking on a leadership role in a professional organization.

What methods do you use to influence others at work? To join the conversation, click on "comments" above -- we'd love to hear from you!
​
Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022. 

0 Comments

Change 1 word to magnify your impact

2/13/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ever been in a situation where you’re getting resistance to your opinion? Try switching from “you” to “we”.

New research from Stanford University reveals how using “you” versus “we” affects how people respond to messages in settings such as online forums and a simulated workplace scenario.

Their findings are notable: In adversarial contexts that held the potential for disagreement or conflict, messages that used “you” and “your” were less persuasive, less likely to be shared, and more likely to be censored than ones that employed “we” and “our.” People who participated in the study were also less inclined to interact or engage with the sources of messages that used “you” rather than “we.”

“We’re not saying that ‘you’ invariably leads to worse outcomes,” study co-author Mohamed Hussein cautions. “We’re saying that when ‘you’ is used in an adversarial or conflict-ridden context, it has the potential to inadvertently lead to negative consequences.”  “We” is more inclusive and lands less aggressively.  “Most people would rather talk to a person who says ‘we got this wrong’ than ‘you got this wrong',” says the study’s other co-author, Zakary Tormala. 

Tormala and Hussein advise that if you’re trying to reach someone with an opposing view, be sure to signal that you are open to their perspective. Managing your pronouns is just one way to do that.  

What results occur when you change “you” messages to “we” messages? To join the conversation, click on "comments" above -- we'd love to hear from you!

Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022. 




0 Comments

4 Responses When “Boundary Predators” Stalk

2/6/2024

2 Comments

 
Picture
Boundary violators exist in all realms of life, but at work, they can be especially troubling. What can you do to set and maintain limits?

The boss that continually intrudes on your personal time, the client who demands more than you agreed to, or the team leader who piles a majority of their work on you…these are all what Priscilla Claman, president of Boston-based Career Strategies Inc., calls “boundary predators.” Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Claman explains, “Boundary predators rely on their power and authority — and your passivity — to get what they want. It’s up to you to push back by understanding how to create boundaries and maintain them.”

She 
offers these 4 strategies:

  1. Have an agreement up front:  This means that everyone consents to terms ahead of time, and everyone understands objectives and expectations. (“I have a hard stop at 5 PM today, and I can tackle the rest tomorrow morning.”) 
  2. Be wary of “scope creep”: This is when you're asked to do more than you've signed up for. At times it is fine to concede, but it may be necessary to reset your original boundary bargain. (“I am happy to do it for you this time, and going forward I can show someone on your staff how to do it.”
  3. Ask questions: Ask clarifying questions before committing to additional assignments. Keep the questions open-ended, so you’ll be able to gather more information without being perceived as negative.
  4. When you decline, don't give a parade of reasons.  Over-explanation will not help you. Too much explanation can lead to the appearance of insecurity and defensiveness.

What do you do when someone oversteps your boundaries? To join the conversation, click on "comments" above -- we'd love to hear from you!

Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

2 Comments
    Picture

    Sign Up for Our
    Weekly Communication
    Capsule Blog

    * indicates required

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    BreakThrough Conflict
    Children & Young Adult
    Communication
    Community Of Practice
    Hardwiring Teamwork
    Leadership
    Persuasion And Influence

Links
​Communication Capsule Blog

Press/Media Resources
​Learning Products

Organizational Culture Survey
III Survey
​
Get In Touch
[email protected]




​
Glaser & Associates, Inc.
Executive Offices
1740 Craigmont Avenue, Eugene, OR 97405
541-343-7575 | 800-980-0321


Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
© 2025 Glaser & Associates. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Courses
    • About
    • Membership
  • Ways To Learn
  • Trainer Training
  • Results And Testimonials
    • Results
    • Testimonials
  • About Us
    • Meet The Glasers
    • Meet The Team
  • Contact