Difficult Conversations Archives - Page 2 of 6

C-Suite Leadership, Communication, Covid-19 Leadership, Difficult Conversations, Fear, Leadership, Leadership Development, Learning & Development, Performance Management, Team Management

‘Tis The Season to Be Jolly…Maybe

Well, December has arrived. It’s an auspicious month; one that brings Hanukkah and Christmas festivities, one that heralds the end of the calendar year. Here in the UK we’re hunkering down in the depth of winter, while in Australia people are looking forward to summer and the long school break. In the workplace, it’s a time for year-end accounts, budgeting, performance reviews, bonus announcements, objective setting… December isn’t just another month. And, for that reason, it’s a month of heightened ...

C-Suite Leadership, Coaching, Communication, Difficult Conversations, HR, Leadership, Leadership Development, Learning & Development, Organisational Development, Performance Management, Performance Reviews

Getting ready for APRs? Some self-assessment questions to ask yourself first

It’s Annual Performance Review time of year again for many organisations. APRs are amongst those conversations that everyone involved should welcome because of the value they bring. Instead, far too often people dread them. In fact, according to a 2019 Gallup report ‘only 14% of employees strongly agree their performance reviews inspire them to improve. In other words, if performance reviews were a drug, they would not meet FDA approval for efficacy.’ Now, if I were to ask you to list ...

C-Suite Leadership, Coaching, Communication, Covid-19 Leadership, Difficult Conversations, Leadership, Leadership Development

How to have conversations about mental well-being as Covid-19 re-emerges

Heather here. Covid-19 is making itself felt more strongly again here in the UK, with varying degrees of lockdown back in force. Talking to clients around the globe, I know that many are also experiencing the sense of one step forward, two steps back brought on by this most insidious virus. Back at the start of September, I had planned to move away from writing on the subject. Leaders I spoke to were looking forward after the summer period; there ...

C-Suite Leadership, Coaching, Communication, Difficult Conversations, Leadership, Leadership Development, Learning & Development, Organisational Development, Team Management

It’s Not Just Another Conversation

How many Zoom calls have you had this week? Actually, Microsoft Teams seems to be the mode with most of my calls recently although, I must admit, I much prefer Zoom. I really like the breakout-rooms facility – check it out if you use Zoom and haven’t come across it yet. A great feature, in my opinion. But, the benefits of Zoom vs Teams isn’t really the point of this email. After all, the technology’s just the route to the ...

C-Suite Leadership, Coaching, Communication, Difficult Conversations, Leadership, Leadership Development

How to resolve conflict when a packet of Haribo won’t work

Heather here. Sorry I wasn’t in touch last week. I was fully engaged in childcare duties. I was staying with my niece and her husband who have recently added a baby daughter to their family of three. I spent much of the week entertaining a three-year old who deeply resents having a little sister taking attention away from him. It’s tough being three and a newly minted big brother. And whew! Hats off to everyone who’s balancing working from home ...

C-Suite Leadership, Coaching, Communication, Covid-19 Leadership, Difficult Conversations, Leadership, Leadership Development, Time Management

Workplace vs home office – how to have a meaningful conversation

Heather here. According to BBC Radio 4 this morning, Next (the multinational clothes and homeware retailer) has reported one of the downsides of home-working as ‘missing the cauldron of creativity’ that happens when people are together. I don’t know if ‘cauldron’ is the reporter’s term or if this is the actual word Next used. Either way, I’m not sure that the image of ‘witches brew’ that it evokes quite works. Nonetheless, the report captured one of the hot debates around ...