Imagine arriving in at work and your inspired team is already hard at work. The place is humming. You’re feeling proud and almost redundant. Isn’t that every leaders’ dream?
And then there’s this whiff of conflict. But it’s not trouble in paradise. It sparks joy in you as you see it spark creativity in them.
Move over Marie Kondo. This requires no tidying up from you. What. So. Ever.
How do you create an environment like that?
Well, according to Judith Glaser, it’s neuroscience. In our Audio Series interview, Judith shared with me her three levels of conversational intelligence. Do you know which kind of conversations trigger the lower, more primitive brain and which activate higher-level intelligence such as trust, integrity, empathy, and good judgment?
I didn’t either before I spoke with Judith. What an inspiration and what a privilege it was for me.
Here’s an easy way to find out for yourself. Simply observe your conversations today and notice how you feel.
- There are the conversations where you’re simply telling and asking. The transactional, “I’d like a latte please. Fat milk.”
- There are the ones where you advocate for your position and inquire about theirs. Let’s be honest. We inquire because we’re hoping to bring them over from the dark side.
- And the conversations where you’re truly sharing and discovering more about each other. These are transformational. We called them D&Ms (deep and meaningful) in primary school and felt all grown up. Yet, as adults, we tend to hold back, letting our fear of vulnerability get in the way.
Of course I can’t do a whole interview justice in a few lines. And the research shows that the best way to learn is to mix it up. That’s why in the Audio Series there are 14 experts sharing their smart approach to communicating effectively, just like Judith. Cool bananas.
What sparks joy for you at work?
