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Why wait for someone to disappoint you?
I was in an interesting conversation with a team today. They were talking about their boss and how he might handle a certain situation. Someone said “I would be really disappointed if he did x.” I...
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Here is why you should stop asking why
Why did you do it that way? Why did you talk to her before talking to me? Why did you promise the customer that we would get it to them? Why didn’t you do a better job? Why is your nose so big? Why?...
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Book Review: Conversational Capacity
One of my clients was kind enough to give me a copy of the new book Conversational Capacity by Craig Weber. I’m sharing it with you because the core idea of this book is powerful and when practiced...
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How Honest Should I Be on 360 Feedback?
So you’ve been invited to provide feedback to a colleague as part of a 360 feedback process. How honest should you be? Can’t I just soft pedal it, Liane? Can’t I hint at things that are really...
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The first 3 things to ask when you join a new team
Joining a new team New Year, new job, new team? If you’re starting out the new year by joining a new team, here are a few things to think about to get off on the right foot. A little effort invested...
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Tools to stop passive-aggressive behavior
What do you get when you cross complex, pressure-filled team challenges with a general fear and loathing of conflict? You get passive-aggressive behavior. Given how stressful and complicated work has...
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How do you interpret silence?
Effective communication is one of the most important differentiators between a vital team and a toxic one. I dedicate a lot of time in team interventions to the skills of communication because it’s...
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Be a more effective devil’s advocate
How often have you heard someone say “just to play the devil’s advocate?” I’m a big fan of the devil’s advocate role when used properly, but even I cringe when this expression comes to mean “Everybody...
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One Thing You Can Do to Repair Trust that is Damaged
Do you have a relationship where damaged trust is interfering with your ability to get things done? It can be difficult to repair trust, but there are a couple of things you can do to build back your...
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Another Thing You Can Do to Repair Trust That is Damaged
Do you have a relationship where damaged trust is interfering with your ability to get things done? In my previous post, I showed you my favorite trust hack—acting as if you trust someone until your...
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How to take constructive feedback
“Feedback is a gift.” How many times have you heard that little gem? I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that not many people ask for feedback for their birthday, so clearly it’s not up there...
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How to accept positive feedback
Positive feedback is rare and precious and you need to make sure you treat it as such. It’s rare because we tend to take good behavior for granted. There are many “no news is good news” leaders out...
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How to deal with an over-powering person on your team
During the question and answer period after a recent speech to the SCNetwork, I was asked how to handle a person who dominates team discussions. This is a situation that many people face, so I thought...
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How to work for a selfish leader
Last year, my colleague Vince Molinaro wrote a great rant about the 10 worst types of leaders. You can read the full post here. When I came across it again, I had the inspiration to write a monthly...
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In the mirror: Are you competing when you should be cooperating?
The Knightsbridge Vital Teams™ process helps team members understand their styles and needs and the impact they have on team dynamics. We use the Birkman Method® as our tool in this process. This is...
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Stop conflict before it starts
“95% of the time, two smart people with the same goals and the same facts will come up with the same plan. So I tell my team to spend their time figuring out if they have the same goals and the same...
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What to say to someone resisting change
“But that’s how we’ve always done it around here!” Heard that before? Have you been on the receiving end of this telltale sign that your new ideas are being resisted and that your teammates are...
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How to disagree with your boss
Just the thought of disagreeing with your boss might make your heart race and your palms sweat. You imagine how things could play out and every daydreamed scenario ends with proof that disagreeing...
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How to start a meeting
It’s been a while since I posted a new Right Words to Say video, but I’m back with a few new answers to questions sent in by members of the Change Your Team Community. In this post, I answer a...
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How to end a meeting
In my previous post, I gave you some tips on how to start a meeting to set it up for success. Today, it’s the other bookend—how to end a meeting to capture the value that was created. Take a look at...
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