All Together Now
I’d rather do it myself. It’s a tempting thought at times. However, collaborating can be fun and rewarding. It’s a natural outgrowth of networking—both in-person and virtual—and a great way to support your colleagues. When you make new connections, you position everyone in the relationship to foster innovation and discover new ways of working.
In these trying times, building a community and connecting with people with like interests, is critical. What are the secrets to good collaborations? We have some thoughts and experiences to share. Read more...
Values, Conduct, and the Frozen Room
Colette Molteni
Imagine you are a leader, and the virtual team meeting starts. Status update ensues, discussions take place, and the call ends at a quarter after the hour. But before that happens, someone in the top right corner of the screen drops a mildly pointed political remark. The room shifts and goes quiet. Eyes drop, and the energy sinks. It’s frozen with nobody knowing what to do. The manager’s instinct is to hope it passes, and everyone moves on quickly.
Political talk often feels personal because it touches on our values, and political disagreements can feel like an attack on our values. Managers fear that intervening means taking sides. So, they say nothing. Yet, this form of relationship management has its own cost. The team reads the silence as either allowed behavior or as no one steering. Follow these steps and be proactive. Read more…
This month’s discussion about diversity and discrimination examines from a musical perspective, “Orchestrating DEI.” There are lessons in the least expected places.
Two weeks ago, Seth Goden wrote a piece, “Left Unsaid.” He reminded us that “It’s difficult to ride a bicycle in the pitch darkness. We need to see where we’re going to avoid obstacles. And it’s hard to maintain our balance. When we choose to avoid the conversations that make us uncomfortable, we’re pedaling in the dark. Talk about it. Turn on the lights.”
Nine years ago, we released The Conflict Resolution Phrase Book. Its objective is to help with those difficult conversations. Pick up a copy, turn on the lights, and stop pedaling in the dark.