Some informative new episodes related to our series on “Crucial Conversations:” This latest series focuses on “common fallacies,” arguments we make that, if you stop to think about them, just can’t be true. Identifying and naming these statements can keep you from losing focus on what truly matters. We encourage our listeners (both of you) to use these fallacies to evaluate …
Common fallacies: Seeing through what’s not true (part 2–Propaganda)
Some informative new episodes related to our series on “Crucial Conversations:” This latest series focuses on “common fallacies,” arguments we make that, if you stop to think about them, just can’t be true. Identifying and naming these statements can keep you from losing focus on what truly matters. We encourage our listeners (both of you) to use these fallacies to evaluate …
Common fallacies: Seeing through what’s not true (part 1–Avoiding the question)
Some informative new episodes related to our series on “Crucial Conversations:” This latest series focuses on “common fallacies,” arguments we make that, if you stop to think about them, just can’t be true. Identifying and naming these statements can keep you from losing focus on what truly matters. We encourage our listeners (both of you) to use these fallacies to evaluate …
Rushed? Restless? … Why?
Pardon me while I preach to myself. I’ve mentioned insights from Alexis de Tocqueville before. A French aristocratic lawyer, he studied the United States in the 1830s and wrote what is perhaps the best outside-the-fishbowl view of our democracy ever written. Here’s the latest nugget, presented without comment except to add a silly but related meme. He mentions how astonishing …
Are you manipulating customers or loving them?
Roleplaying. If it doesn’t make you think of Dungeons & Dragons … it possibly gives you work jitters. Roleplaying is one of the best ways to “wrestle and grow” your communication skills. But it is certainly a wrestle, especially if you have an audience. I recently assessed employees who role-played some customer service scenarios with professional actors. It was a …
Podcast 110 – Crucial Conversations: Learn to look
In preparing for a high-stakes, emotionally charged conversation where there will be opposing views … you better learn to look. Mainly at yourself. Tips on how to do so in this episode. This episode is part of our series on “Crucial Conversations.” The first episode is at this link. We would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email …
Podcast 109 – Crucial Conversations: Start with the heart
When you identify a high-stakes, emotional issue with strongly opposing views … how quickly do you discuss it? Or do you resort to “silence or violence?” As promised last episode, welcome to our series on how to have difficult conversations. We are using the excellent “Crucial Conversations” as our inspiration. Whether you have to tell somebody they smell bad, discuss a …
Podcast 96: The Workplace Book Club – ”Nothing beside remains”
What will be your legacy? Your organization’s legacy? On this week’s Workplace Book Club, we look at a poem. (Just like AMC did for the sake of a hit TV show.) Even in the workplace, are there things that last? Mike and Mark are #twoguyswithoutlookswithbooks. The excerpt and study guide for this episode, “Nothing beside remains,” is available for free …
Podcast 93: The Workplace Book Club — Conviction vs. Friendship
What’s more important, logic or relationships? Truth or friendship? Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” has something to say about that–yes, even at work. Another episode of #guyswithoutlookswithbooks, where we bring the book club to the workplace. The excerpt and study guide for this episode, “Conviction vs. friendship,” is available for free download. We would love your questions and comments …