ICommunicate Radio Show #132: What Are You Trying To Say?

Ever wonder why words like micromanage, help, change, and fault frustrate and trigger people so much? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to define terms and set expectations when getting people to be more open-minded, receptive to feedback, and more comfortable having difficult conversations. Segment 1: Nobody likes to be micromanaged, so coming to an agreement early on between leaders and our teams may be the key to avoiding that frustration. Why do words like “micromanage” and “help” cause people to be so irritated? What conversations should we be having with our teams to create an environment that invites feedback? Segment 2: Sitting down with a colleague and having a difficult conversation can be daunting on its own, never mind when you consider the fact that your word choice can make or break the dialogue. What mindset should we have going into these conversations, and how can we adapt to the flow of the discussion? Segment 3: We can follow all the right steps while communicating with someone, but still not manage to get the results that we wanted. What then? How can we navigate our way through difficult conversations without inadvertently devaluing what the other person has to say? Segment 4: As difficult as it is to be the bearer of bad news and reject somebody, it’s our responsibility to let them know. How should we communicate rejection with somebody, and is there a way to make it easier on us?