Courageous Conversations: The Future is Now Last week, I hosted a webinar titled Tools for Courageous Conversations on the Ellevate Global Network. Ellevate, also a Certified B Corp, believes in the positive impact of women in business. Last week, I hosted a webinar titled Tools for Courageous Conversations on the Ellevate Global Network. Ellevate, also a Certified B Corp, believes in the positive impact of women in business. Continue reading “Courageous Conversations: The Future is Now”
B-ing the Change March is B-Corp month, a time to recognize those for-profit businesses using the power of the marketplace to help solve social and environmental problems. I am proud that my company is one of more than 2,400 Certified B Corps from 50 countries and over 130 industries working together toward one unifying goal: to redefine success … Continue reading “B-ing the Change” March is B-Corp month, a time to recognize those for-profit businesses using the power of the marketplace to help solve social and environmental problems. I am proud that my company is one of more than 2,400 Certified B Corps from 50 countries and over 130 industries working together toward one unifying goal: to redefine success in business. But while we share a certification and a goal, the inspiration that led us to “B-ing the Change” is as individual as we are. Here is my story. Continue reading “B-ing the Change”
Developing the “I inside the We” This is the sixth in a blog series on the course I am taking on Conversational Intelligence by Judith E. Glaser. The sixth module, “Expressing Conversations,” guides us to develop the space for healthy conversation to emerge, for individuals to have a voice that can create collective next-generation thinking. This is the sixth in a blog series on the course I am taking on Conversational Intelligence by Judith E. Glaser. The sixth module, “Expressing Conversations,” guides us to develop the space for healthy conversation to emerge, for individuals to have a voice that can create collective next-generation thinking. Continue reading “Developing the “I inside the We””
Which Brain is Driving your Conversation? In July 2017, Judith Glaser’s seven-month Conversational Intelligence program culminated with an in-person graduation event in New York City. Vista Global Coaching & Consulting joined over 200 coaches in New York plus hundreds of other participants live-streaming from across the globe. In July 2017, Judith Glaser’s seven-month Conversational Intelligence program culminated with an in-person graduation event in New York City. Vista Global Coaching & Consulting joined over 200 coaches in New York plus hundreds of other participants live-streaming from across the globe. Continue reading “Which Brain is Driving your Conversation?”
Build Your Conversation Agility: Align Your Intention with Your Impact The fifth module of Judith E. Glaser’s Conversational Intelligence course, “Generating Conversations,” guides us to identify the patterns that lower our C-IQ and create the right environment to overcome these patterns to activate parts of the brain for co-creation of transformational conversations. The best communicators align their intentions with their impact. While our intention is what we … Continue reading “Build Your Conversation Agility: Align Your Intention with Your Impact” The fifth module of Judith E. Glaser’s Conversational Intelligence course, “Generating Conversations,” guides us to identify the patterns that lower our C-IQ and create the right environment to overcome these patterns to activate parts of the brain for co-creation of transformational conversations. The best communicators align their intentions with their impact. While our intention is what we want to happen, our impact is the experience of the receiver. Successful communicators monitor and align the intentions and impact resulting in greater trust. In transformational conversations, the interaction dynamic is to “share and discover” which opens us up to broader insights and wisdom than each person has individually. We ask questions to which we truly have no answers, thereby inviting others to participate in answers that are co-created. We engage with others in high levels of curiosity, candor and wonder asking provocative questions, enabling us to partner and elevate our thinking to new ideas for innovation. We reach transformational conversations through building conversational agility skills of reframing, refocusing, and redirecting. Reframe, Refocus and Redirect When we are in a conversational pattern that starts to feel like it isn’t working, people are in protective or positional stance, that is the signal to activate conversational agility skills. Research done by the HeartMath Institute has determined that practices that reduce the negative thought loops and fear, create the space for innovation and co-creation. Reframe Reframing takes a difficult situation and turns it into an opportunity for finding trust and common ground with someone. You are giving the other person a mental break and creating space to think in a new way. Example: “I am a failure because I didn’t win the contract with that big client.” Reframe: “Yes, you didn’t win that contract but you did learn a lot about what it takes to put together a proposal for a big client and that will provide insights for the next time we go after a big project.” Refocus Refocusing allows you to move people from a place where they are stuck and point them toward a larger topic where they can see connections that they had not seen before. Example: “I am really frustrated that I continue to be passed over for an invitation to be on a speaker panel when I have the most experience.” Refocus: “You really seem to care a lot about the topic, what are some other ways that you can share your expertise that would raise the visibility of your talents to the entire organization?” Redirect Redirecting helps people move from a place of being stuck and emotionally bound, to a place where they can see new opportunities. Example: “There is no way that I can start a new business when I am working full-time. I can’t quit my job.” Redirect: “Sure, I understand there are risks of completely quitting your job but what can you do to move in the direction of starting your new business?” When you notice that you or someone else is in a protective mode, being resistant or skeptical, you can use these conversational agility skills to nudge them towards a mind shift for transformational conversations. Stay tuned for more tips to have meaningful conversations that transform leaders and organizations. This is part of a blog series on Conversational Intelligence course by Judith E. Glaser. Check out related blogs such as “Listening to Connect” and “Moving from Distrust to Trust.” Photo credit: Rawpixel.com via Shutterstock.
Upcoming Workshop: Tools for Courageous Conversations Do you work with someone whose conversational style is “Tell, Sell, and Yell” and sometimes struggle to feel heard? Join Mary Stelletello and the Madison chapter of the Ellevate Network on November 8, 2017, at 5:30 P.M. for a 90-minute workshop at the Stamm House in Middleton, Wisconsin. Learn trust-building techniques to improve your conversational intelligence … Continue reading “Upcoming Workshop: Tools for Courageous Conversations” Do you work with someone whose conversational style is “Tell, Sell, and Yell” and sometimes struggle to feel heard? Join Mary Stelletello and the Madison chapter of the Ellevate Network on November 8, 2017, at 5:30 P.M. for a 90-minute workshop at the Stamm House in Middleton, Wisconsin. Mary Stelletello leads a workshop at the 2016 Vista Leadership Academy retreat. Photo: M. Stelletello Learn trust-building techniques to improve your conversational intelligence (C-IQ) and best practices heralded by Ellevate Network Founder Sallie Krawcheck. In this workshop, we will talk through the conversation styles designed to teach how to move a conversation from “Me to We” using tools like the C-IQ Conversation Dashboard. Explore Courageous Conversations We will also explore Krawcheck’s book “Own It: The Power of Women at Work” and concepts for having “Courageous Conversations.” Whether the conversation is about gender equity, company culture, bias around work assignments, or “man-terrupting”, Sallie believes there is an urgency for all women to engage in courageous conversations. “We all have the power to bring about change, individually and collectively, and the way we do that is by each of us starting conversations in our own workplaces. …I also firmly believe that owning these conversations can also position each of us as true leaders, for taking a principled and educated stance on what is clearly “the right side of history.” Source: Krawcheck, Sallie. Own It: The Power of Women at Work (p. 144-146). The Crown Publishing Group. Workshop goals and learning objectives include: Gain increased awareness of your personal conversational style and its impact on others Learn techniques to engage in courageous conversations Increase ability to access empathy, foster shared decision-making, and connect with others more deeply Interested? Get your tickets today! The workshop is $10.00 for Ellevate Network members and $15.00 for non-members. Can’t make it to this workshop? Contact Mary to learn about a custom workshop for your team or organization.
