Length:
10 minutes
Have a look at the matrix above.
- Reflect on the last few times a colleague, or colleagues, shared good news with you – however small.
- How did you respond? Which of the four boxes do your responses tend to fall into?
Here are a few tips on how to make your responses as constructive as possible. Using these ideas - or better ideas you may think of - will help you build better relationships and better teamwork. Teams with more constructive dynamics feel safer psychologically, which in turn makes them more enjoyable and more productive.
- Listen carefully to what people say and what they are trying to express. Try to build directly on what they have said.
- Does what you are about to say link in a positive way to what the other person has just said or are you just trying to make your own point?
- Think about whether what you are about to say will come across as critical to the other party. Even if you disagree with what they are saying, find a way of responding that can point out where you have a different view but can still leave the other person feeling respected. You can disagree with a point without being personally disagreeable in the way you phrase your view. 'Disagree without being disagreeable!'
Now shift into 'taking action' mode:
- Is there anything you might do differently in future?
- Write notes on your thoughts and conclusions and any immediate actions you can take.