WELCOME! What does open, honest communication look like in your organization?

Read on for some thoughts from research reports and case studies.

Creating conversations that really matter

Most workplace conversations usually focus on transferring information, or persuading or commanding another person – "how to’ instructions, “do it my way", "I’m right and you’re not" – based on where we fall in the organization’s chain of command. This is the way of the world: Take a position and hold it against all comers. Suppose there was another way, one in which people agreed to share understanding and make meaning that would benefit all. What might that be like? Read complete article.

Mining Conflict for Growth and Profit

In conflict, communication wears two faces. It may be simultaneously the genesis of discord as well as the key to peaceful resolution; it may lead to time-wasting arguments or creative diversions. When we inadvertently – or stubbornly – misinterpret another’s words and attribute unworthy motivations to them, poor communication skills are at work. If we move beyond the perceived personal implications and seek to find our common ground and deeper intentions, the result can be a surprisingly rich dialogue that produces innovative solutions. Read complete article.

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Copyright © 2006 Carol J. Sutton