Do You Know How to Engage People Now?
Anger Management: Most of us are snappish these days: sick of zooming, tired of staying in and avoiding friends and family. We are burned out on politics, fires, remote learning, and just want to go back to the “before time.” We may be snarling and short with those we lead but we still need to find a way to keep them engaged.
Engagement: We live in an age when we need to involve those we lead to accomplish our goals. To gain their buy-in, we need to learn how to inquire instead of just informing them of what we are doing. Now more than ever, we need to try to create productivity from our entire team. Especially if your staff is working remotely, email, text or messaging can come across curt, rather than engaging.
What Should You Do?
Try Inquiry:
Instead of just ordering everyone around, here are some specific examples of things to try:
| Orders |
Questions |
| Here’s the schedule for this project. |
What are your ideas for a workable schedule for this project? |
| Here’s what I need from you to accomplish this. |
What are you willing to do to accomplish our goals? |
| You need to get along with X. |
There seems to be something that X does that sets you off. What might that be? |
| You need to meet deadlines. |
There seems to be something in the way of you meeting deadlines, what might that be? |
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Obviously, if the problem persists, your language might need to become more didactic, but first, try inquiry.
For more ideas about communicating effectively, read these articles: 
Communicating Effectively During Conflict
Difficult Conversations: How NOT to Get Them on Your Side
Leadership Communication: How Do You Rate?
What Do You Think?
Is politics an issue in your workplace? Call or write us: 303-216-1020 or email: Lynne@workplacesthatwork.com
Did You Know
All our management and leadership classes include communication and conflict sections.Call or write us at: 303-216-1020 or Lynne@workplacesthatwork.com
Effective Workplace Communication Workshop
Thursday, October 1
Along with our long-time partner, Fair Measures, we will be delivering a special, complementary,
two-hour, virtual, Effective Workplace Communication workshop on October 1, for selected client leaders.
To see if you qualify, call or write us at: 303-216-1020 or Lynne@workplacesthatwork.com
Read Lynne’s book “We Need to Talk: Tough Conversations with Your Employee”and learn to tackle any topic with sensitivity and smarts.
September 14, 2020
