If your team revisits the same conversation again and again, or people couch what they say with ‘maybe’ and ‘could be’, it’s a sign that you’re not having the honest conversations you need to have.
We breakdown what gets in the way of teams having honest conversations and what they can do about it.
Episode Overview: What Gets in the Way of Honest Conversations in Teams?
In this episode of Culture Bites, Dominic Gourley and Corinne Canter explore the barriers to having honest and robust conversations in teams. Drawing from their experiences working with executive groups, they discuss the signs that indicate a team might be avoiding genuine dialogue, such as the use of indirect language, recurring unresolved issues, silence, or humor that diffuses tension.
Key points include:
- Recognising the Symptoms:
- Indirect or hesitant language.
- Issues that repeatedly resurface.
- Silence when addressing challenging topics.
- Humour used to deflect discomfort.
- Barriers to Honest Conversations:
- Fear of offending or hurting others.
- Lack of trust or the perception of misaligned interests.
- Uncertainty about how to frame or start difficult discussions.
- Strategies for Effective Dialogue:
- Address issues early before they escalate into larger conflicts.
- Frame the conversation constructively by focusing on specific examples and the broader context.
- Build relationships and trust within the team to lay the groundwork for open communication.
- Summarise and align on decisions during team discussions to avoid unresolved outcomes.
- Practical Tips for Teams:
- Focus on exploring options rather than advocating solely for personal preferences.
- Practice being clear and specific rather than vague or generalising.
- Paraphrase and ask questions to ensure mutual understanding.
- The Value of Clarity:
Corinne and Dom emphasise that being “kind” is better than being “nice”—addressing tough issues directly and constructively shows care for the team’s growth and the individual’s development.
The episode concludes with actionable advice: foster an environment of trust, intervene early, and remember that clarity is key to constructive conversations.
Tune in next time for more insights on cultivating productive team cultures!