14

Oct

How do you deal with someone who is always negative about change?

0 No comments

3coze

change, change management, complainer, complaining, feedback, negativity, passive-aggressive, transformation, transition

Be a better team member, Communicate, conflict, Connect, How to fix teams, Right Words to Say

So, you’re busy trying to get on with the next in line of never-ending changes in your organization but you’ve got THAT person on your team: The person who moans and complains at every request and drones on about how horrible everything is. First of all, I’m sorry you have to deal with that. Second, […]

read more

30

Sep

Should I be honest with my colleagues?

1 comment

3coze

candor, feedback, honesty, performance review, radical candor, resesarch, teamwork, truth

Be a better team member, conflict, Connect, How to fix teams

This just in: new research on the effects of being honest and what it means for you. I’m constantly encouraging people to engage in the productive conflict that will move their team (and their organization) forward. The biggest stumbling block is people’s fear that being honest about what they think and feel will erode trust […]

read more

20

May

Should you pick your battles?

0 No comments

3coze

argument, battles, colleagues, conflict, debates, fights, passive-aggressive, war metaphors

About teams, Be a better team member, Communicate, conflict, How to fix teams, Personal Development, Right Words to Say

“Do you agree that we should pick our battles?” This was a question I got during the Q&A session of a keynote speech I gave last week. I think I surprised the questioner with my response, which means I might surprise you too, so here goes. If you are “picking battles,” you’re getting conflict all […]

read more

06

May

Prevent resistance before it starts

0 No comments

3coze

conflict, decision making, downsizing, fire, firing, resistance, termination

Be a better team leader, conflict, Horror Stories

First off, apologies for posting so infrequently for the past while. I’ve been on the road for most of the past two months and I’ve devoted all available writing time to my new manuscript. The great news is that I just submitted Chapter 9 and that means only one more chapter to go! I am […]

read more

01

Apr

How to (inadvertently) start a fight

0 No comments

3coze

development, feedback, feelings, leadership, Mistakes, personality, potential, training

Bad Leaders, Be a better team leader, Communicate, conflict, Connect, Horror Stories, Personal Development, Right Words to Say

I’ve been flying across the country delivering a leadership development program about the mindset and skillset leaders require to unlock the potential of their people. As I watch them role play with one another, I notice the things they say that create a negative reaction. Most of the offending statements include one of these three […]

read more

11

Feb

The #1 Crisis Facing Organizations: The Need for More Conflict

8 comments

3coze

conflict, Galbraith, laterals, matrix organization, priorities, prioritization, star model, strategy, structure, SWOT

About teams, conflict, Horror Stories, Strategy & Planning

I’m deep into writing my new book and I’ve had an epiphany: Organizations are built to require conflict while employees are built to avoid it. I see this impact of this problem every day, but it took me 20 years to name it. Now it’s so clear. We have set up a fundamental tension between […]

read more

28

Jan

How to Broach an Uncomfortable Topic

3 comments

3coze

argument, communication, conflict, conflict resolution, disagree with teammates, disagreement

Be a better team member, Communicate, conflict, Connect, How to fix teams, Right Words to Say

I keep encouraging you to wade into uncomfortable conversations as they emerge to avoid racking up conflict debt. Rather than deferring the topic, or talking only with those who agree with you, it’s best to get the disagreement out in the open. When you do, the point is to find a way to get on […]

read more

21

Jan

9 Easy Ways to Improve Decision Making on Your Team

0 No comments

3coze

assumptions, cognitive biases, contingencies, decision making, decisions, disagreement, groupthink, implications, strategic planning

Be a better team leader, Be a better team member, Communicate, conflict, Exercises, How to fix teams, Right Words to Say

You know that your team is conflict avoidant. You know it’s preventing you from surfacing issues, thoroughly discussing them, and getting them resolved effectively. You really want to make it better, but how do you start? The people on your team (and maybe even your boss) are seriously unwilling to broach any subject that might […]

read more

14

Jan

Disagree with your boss without getting fired

0 No comments

3coze

conflict aversion, conflict avoidant, Fired, organizational culture, power struggles, standing up to your boss, values

Bad Leaders, Be a better team member, conflict, Personal Development, Right Words to Say

This is the last of a series of posts exploring the causes and impact of our profound conflict aversion. I’m exploring how the things we were told as children, taught us that conflict was bad.  “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” or “Mind your own business!” or “You made him […]

read more

17

Dec

Should I risk making someone emotional?

0 No comments

3coze

anger, argument, conflict, crying, emotion, emotional, yelling

Be a better team leader, Be a better team member, Communicate, conflict, Connect, Success Stories

I’m in the midst of a series of posts exploring our profound conflict aversion and its toll on businesses, teams, and individuals. In previous posts, I shared a couple of the things we’re taught as children that give rise to our conflict aversion: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” and […]

read more