by Larry Dressler | Mar 16, 2020 | On My Mind
In this series of posts I’m sharing Six Shifts in mindset and behavior that leaders can make in order to be more effective in having high-stakes conversations. For most of us, when we think about having an uncomfortable conversation we worry a lot about what could go...
by Larry Dressler | Mar 10, 2020 | On My Mind
It’s the moment of truth. You can’t put it off any longer. The time has come for a difficult conversation with your colleague. You must express serious concerns about their actions or disagreement with them. You worry it will spark defensiveness or do damage to the...
by Larry Dressler | Feb 27, 2020 | In My Tool Bag
Have you ever sat in a meeting while asking yourself, “Why am I here?” People don’t hate meetings. They hate being in meetings where they don’t belong. Meetings should be curated – right people, right meeting, right moment. Undisciplined curation means more than...
by Larry Dressler | Feb 20, 2020 | On My Mind
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves… Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” — Rainer Maria Rilke...
by Larry Dressler | Feb 11, 2020 | In My Ear Buds
It’s easy to assume that people who start iconic companies succeed because they are smarter, luckier, and more capable than the rest of us. But when you listen to Guy Raz, host of the podcast “How I Built This”, interview the founders of companies like DoorDash,...
by Larry Dressler | Jan 21, 2020 | On My Mind
I’m a big believer in free speech. But, when it comes to my own freedom of expression, I’ve learned that there’s such a thing as speaking too freely – too hastily, too re-actively, too fervently — especially when I am trying to influence others. Asking myself the...
by Larry Dressler | Jan 14, 2020 | In My Tool Bag
Leaders often ask me: How can we build trust on this team? I don’t think that’s the right question. Both inside and outside of work, trust is the basis of all relationships. And that trust has to be earned. So, I prefer to ask: How do we become more trustworthy team...
by Larry Dressler | Jan 7, 2020 | On My Mind
I recently walked into a client’s conference room and smiled when I saw this sign on the wall: No Objectives? No Agenda? No Ground Rules? NO MEETING! Most would read this sign and think: “Duh. I already know that.” But, knowing is different than doing. And just doing...
by Larry Dressler | Nov 20, 2019 | On My Mind
I recently stumbled onto a project called The People’s Supper. Its aim is to bring together people of different identities and perspectives over a meal and to have conversations grounded in unconditional welcoming, kindness, and openness. Many of these suppers open...
by Larry Dressler | Nov 12, 2019 | In My Tool Bag
One measure of success in your meetings is the extent to which all of the different perspectives in the room were expressed. For a lot of reasons, including differences in power and status, and sense of safety, people don’t necessarily offer their ideas in groups....
