Conversational Capacity

Open and honest communication strengthens collaboration, spurs development, and builds trust. It is like the circulation in our bodies: it gives us strength and protects us from problems.

Who should attend:

Leaders and team members at all levels

Ideal class size:

8-12

Duration:

1 day

How honest and receptive are you under pressure?

When the stakes are high, we often try to be right and get our way, or we hold back because we don’t want conflict. Thus, when we talk about problems or opportunities, many ideas or perspectives that could lead to much better decisions never see the light of day.

With day-to-day operational decisions, we do not perceive this as a big problem. But when we are discussing strategic issues or making organizational changes, it is a major handicap if we do not share all our thoughts openly and honestly.

As the result of Blanchard’s Conversational Capacity program, you will:

Boost innovation: People share their ideas. Others add theirs, and the original idea gets better. This is the key to innovation.
Engage your employees: When people can talk honestly about what they really think, morale improves and momentum builds.
Improve your efficiency: There is less miscommunication and misunderstanding. Therefore, everyone knows what to do, and is able to do it.
Reduce staff turnover: We need to be able to discuss things honestly – but few companies do this well. You make your company more attractive by strengthening the exchange of views at all levels.

The key to better conversations

The program addresses the ability of individuals and teams to engage in open, balanced, non-defensive dialogue, even on difficult and sensitive topics. This makes it easier to find the sweet spot where understanding is best and innovation is strongest.

The main topics of the program:

Awareness: Recognizing when emotions or stress are blocking genuine listening and causing tension in others. This allows us to participate more intentionally when discussing delicate matters.
Skillset: We focus on four – two for candor and two for curiosity. By balancing candor and curiosity, we create the sweet spot of the discussion.
Mindset: Seeking to explore other perspectives and listening to opposing arguments, as this is where we can learn the most and gain the most valuable insights.