 Let’s be honest — most of us would rather dodge tough conversations than dive into them. After all, who likes conflict?
But avoiding those conversations can quietly erode trust, stall progress, and strain relationships more than we realize. In Harvard Business Review, Joel Garfinkel — executive coach and author of Difficult Conversations: Practical Tactics for Crucial Conversation — shares some smart, doable strategies for making those tough talks a little less intimidating.
Have you had a difficult conversation lately? What helped you step up — and how did it change things afterward? Share your experience by clicking "Comments" below. Curious about how to build your communication muscles? Check out our online learning programs to keep leveling up your conversation game.
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 Kindness is quietly going viral in workplaces — and it’s transforming everything...
Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki has explored a fascinating concept he calls “positive conformity.” Through his research, he discovered that “participants who believed others were more generous became more generous themselves.” Simply put, kindness is contagious — it can ripple through people and even evolve into new expressions along the way. Bill Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company, shared his thoughts on this idea. He argues that Zaki’s insight, while crucial for improving society, also has transformative potential for companies. Instead of issuing kindness as a “directive,” Taylor suggests treating it like a contagion by creating environments where everyone naturally “catches” it. One inspiring example comes from the customer service transformation at Mercedes-Benz USA under the leadership of Stephen Cannon, their President and CEO. Cannon recognized that every customer interaction boiled down to a personal encounter — moments where employees could either create unforgettable experiences or deliver a standard, uninspired service. To shift the culture, he championed a grassroots movement to empower employees to go above and beyond for customers. Here are just two stories that highlight this transformation:
These moments weren't mandated from the top; they bubbled up from empowered employees who embraced a culture of care. As Taylor eloquently puts it, “You can’t order people to be kind, but you can spark a kindness contagion.” Now, we’d love to hear from you. Have you witnessed an act of kindness within your organization that inspired others to follow? Share your story by clicking on "comments" below. And if you’re interested in deepening your skills around high-impact communication, don’t miss our online learning programs — they’re designed to help you create habits that make a difference.  A great story is not just heard; it’s felt. Stories can persuade, convince, and convert. Here are 4 ways to move people to action through storytelling…
Stories do more than entertain — they persuade. And many successful leaders and entrepreneurs use stories to turn words into impact. For some guidance when it comes to spinning a tale, Will Storrs, journalist and author of A Story is a Deal, shares four storytelling techniques to drive results.
When is the last time you were motivated to action by a story? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  A leader’s positivity at the start of a year or project can have an out-sized impact on team performance ...
It’s no secret that a leader’s positive or negative communication can have a deep impact on how a team performs. Now researchers have studied what effect the timing of positivity might have. As a study published in Organizational Science showed, timing is everything. “When leaders expressed a lot of early-term positivity, their employees performed better throughout the year, compared with all other timing (for example expressing more positivity at the mid-point, or end of year, or leaders who were primarily negative at the start).” Here is the evidence-based advice:
Do you recall a leader or coach you worked with whose early positivity inspired you? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  The responsibility for turning feedback into growth for you and your team falls on you, even when that guidance is vague and unclear…
Vague feedback (“You need to be more strategic” or “You need to improve your communication”) is not only annoying but difficult to act on. Without specifics or concrete examples, you’re left guessing what success looks like and at a loss for what changes to make. For multiple reasons, you cannot afford to let vague feedback stand. Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Melody Wilding, executive coach and author of Managing Up, says “The lack of clarity trickles down to affect your team’s priorities, slows decision-making, and creates confusion across the organization.” Here are 3 things you can do to manage the vague feedback you receive:
Do you think the feedback you get is specific enough, and, if not, what are you doing about it? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  The road to less arguing and better problem solving starts with asking one simple question…
Have you ever tried to change the mind of someone you disagree with? Good luck! And yet, psychologists say that remembering one simple question is the first step on the road to less hostility and more productive dialogue. Finding common ground may seem unlikely, especially in times like these. But it all begins with listening. Then, for the sake of initially engaging your partner, forget about facts. Regardless of their veracity, reciting a list of studies and statistics will likely just raise defensiveness. Beating people over the head with evidence that proves they’re wrong, only makes them more likely to insist they’re right. “People generally put their affiliation with their group and their sense of themselves as a competent and good person ahead of rationality,” writes Jessica Stillman in INC. Yelling doesn’t work either. Stridency might make you feel relief in the moment, but it almost always backfires and hardens other peoples’ beliefs. So, what’s left? Asking the “magic question.” According to science writer David Robson, author of the 2024 book, The Laws of Connection, you need to convince people of your good intentions for the conversation. Ask them: Can you tell me more about how you came to think that?” Is this enough to have someone do a 180-degree opinion turn? No. But, it is a start. You cannot change anyone’s mind if you don’t convince them you are open to understanding them. Have you ever tried to change someone’s mind about a deeply held belief? How did that turn out? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  Coaching goes beyond feedback — it builds confident, creative problem-solvers who take initiative and tackle challenges head-on. Choose among these 4 approaches to unlock potential and drive innovation…
Effective coaching is all about balance — knowing when to guide and when to step back. In the Harvard Business Review, Ruchira Chaudhary of TrueNorth Consulting, outlines four key coaching styles within a "push" and "pull" framework. Your choice depends on your expertise, the task at hand, and the experience level of the person you're coaching.
Which coaching style do you employ most? How might you expand your approach to coaching? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  Have you ever used the silent treatment? This “noisy” silence can destroy relationships — and there is a better way…
The silent treatment is intentionally refusing to communicate with someone. Writing in the New York Times, Jane Dunn canvassed experts as to its repercussions. Kipling Williams, emeritus professor of psychological sciences at Purdue University has studied the effects of the silent treatment for over 30 years. He and others refer to its use as “noisy silence” because the point is to demonstrate to the other person that they are actively being ignored. It might even include tactics like leaving the room when they enter — perhaps adding a door slam! Using the silent treatment can feel powerful in the moment, because it makes the other person uncomfortable. But, despite its common use, it can have long-term consequences in a relationship. Dr. Gail Saltz, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, says, “The silent treatment is a punishment, whether you are acknowledging that to yourself or not.” That can destroy trust and fail to solve the actual problem. So what works better?
Have you ever given or received the silent treatment, and how did the episode resolve? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  Framing things positively has enormous advantages… and there is one negative word you should consider banishing for good…
If you ask someone at Disney what time the park closes, they don’t exactly tell you. What they say is that “the park is open until 10 PM.” This is an example of what Debra Jasper, CEO of Mindset Digital, refers to as “positive priming.” And she thinks it should be applied to virtually every interaction. “Start with what you can do, not what you can’t,” she advises. If a client asks if you can meet at 2 PM Tuesday, they do not care or want to hear that you are busy. Instead counter with when you can meet: “I can make Wednesday morning work.” Or, instead of saying, “I can’t get that to you until Friday,” try, “I can get that to you on Friday.” Above all, Jasper says, there is a word you might want to banish from your vocabulary. That word is unfortunately. If you look up synonyms for “unfortunate” you get words like “grievous”, “dreadful”, and “disagreeable.” Is this really the tone you want to set? The next time you are tempted to begin a communication with “Unfortunately, I can’t…”, pause and rethink. How can you frame this communication positively? Hint: Start with the words, “I can.” How often do you find yourself using the word “unfortunately” and what could be your substitute? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. 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.  Regardless of whether the word “writer” is in your job title, we are all writers—creating email, cover letters, reports, speeches, blogs, newsletters. Here are four tips to help you do it much better…
It’s easy to feel frustrated by the writing process, but it's also easy to boost your skills through some simple practices. Mastering the art of writing will help you be persuasive and prompt others to view you as smarter and more insightful. Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Samantha Amber, author and host of the podcast How I Write, offers these tips:
What do you have on deck to write next, and which of these tips might help you most? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  When it comes to staying healthy, science shows that social connection is as important as diet and exercise…
The Harvard Study of Adult Development has been minutely tracking the lives of some 724 original participants (and some of their descendants) since 1938. One of its biggest takeaways is that the greatest predictor of health and happiness isn’t a factor like cholesterol levels or blood pressure. It is the strength of a person’s social ties. But social fitness, one of the study’s directors said, is just like physical fitness: You must work at it. Harvard-trained social scientist and author Kasey Killam has a framework for doing so, calling it the 5-3-1 rule. At a minimum:
Of course, these research-based guidelines can be flexed, depending on circumstances like age, lifestyle, and physical limitations. However, the 5-3-1 rule makes for a great baseline. Offering some helpful tips to get started, Killam suggests putting some friendships on auto-pilot with a weekly or monthly dinner, walk, or other activity. You can also put a post-it on your bathroom mirror reminding you to reach out to someone. You can volunteer in your community, or commit to a set number of 10-minute phone calls each week. These strategies can help you create new habits that, in time, will become self-reinforcing. Are you getting your 5-3-1 in, and, if not, how can you create a new habit to do so? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  It’s hard when someone you care about is upset, but asking them one simple question can help...
We can feel helpless when someone we care about is emotionally overwhelmed, and the last thing we want to do is say the wrong thing. Writing in the New York Times, Janee Dunn recounts the advice she got from a special education teacher. When one of her students is upset, she asks them: "Do you want to be helped, heard, or hugged?" Writes Dunn:, “It struck me that this question could be just as effective for adults.” Everyone handles emotions in their own way. And each option — thoughtful advice, empathetic listening, or a hug — has the power to comfort and soothe. A hug can release oxytocin, a bonding hormone that tamps down stress. Likewise, being heard with high quality listening has been shown to reduce defensiveness. Also, some research suggests that couples who give each other supportive advice create higher relationship satisfaction. Different emotions lead to upset and each may necessitate a different response. For example, someone experiencing anxiety may appreciate reassurance, but someone who is frustrated may rather be heard. And don’t try to problem-solve unless that kind of intervention is requested. Someone who is upset may already be aware of solutions, but they may want to process their experience before moving on. What do you most often need when you are upset, and how do you communicate that? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  Trapped in continual “doing mode?” You’re not alone. Here’s how to give yourself permission to pause… and think bigger.
So many of us are focused on doing mode — achieving goals and checking items off to-do lists. But better relationships, bigger-picture strategies, and creative thinking all depend on pausing and entering into spacious mode. Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Megan Reitz of Oxford University’s Said Business School, and John Higgins, director of research at The Right Conversation, share their research-based tips for making it easier and safer to occasionally switch modes.
When was the last time you deliberately took a pause to create thinking time, and what were the results? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. We'd really like 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.  Setbacks are unavoidable. But these 5 steps can help you bounce back…
We have all faced it: We miss out on a promotion or a job offer, face harsh criticism, or fail to reach an important goal. Rebuilding your confidence after a setback is possible, but resilience requires reflection, patience, and proactive steps. Writing in Forbes, senior contributor Benjamin Laker offers this advice:
What have you done to recover from a setback in your professional life? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.  Friendships are so important, they can literally impact life and death…
Romance gets a lot of attention but, according to a growing body of research, friendships are critical to our health and well being. A review of 38 studies found that adult friendships, especially high-quality ones that provide social support and companionship, significantly predict wellness and can protect against mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Those benefits persist across the life span. Friendships protect to some degree by altering the way we respond to stress. Our blood pressure can lower when we talk to a supportive friend. When we have a friend by our side while completing a tough task, we have less heart rate reactivity than those working alone. Friendships can also change our perspective. In one study, people even judged a hill to be less steep when accompanied by a friend. Fortunately, research also suggests that friendships can be forged and maintained at any age. Even minimal social interactions can be powerful. So-called “weak ties” -- interactions we have with casual acquaintances -- can boost our health and sustain positivity. Isolation during the pandemic proved hard on nearly everyone, but it did focus scientific attention on how important human connection is across all ages and all spheres of life. Do you have friendships that nourish you, and do you actively make an effort to keep them going? Let us know if you’ve found a way to start new friendships as an adult. To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022. |
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