Our ongoing series of ‘Meaningful Conversations’ webinars concludes this Friday 21st with a look at conducting effective Performance Appraisals. (Register here if you haven’t already!)

What underpins this and all the other preceding modules is the concept of a ‘meaningful conversation’; we defined this as a conversation which:

- delivers against it’s stated purpose

- builds or maintains a high trust relationship

If either one of these components is missing, then the conversation just becomes coercive, or a friendly chat, or meaningless, or sometimes all three in quick succession.

We often see the ability of a Line Manager to deliver on the trust dimension as being the most demanding and least attended to; why? Time pressures, inexperience, lack of skills, etc.

So, what top 5 tips would we offer someone looking to improve in this area?

1. Understand your own communication style and that of others – if they like facts, give them facts; if they prefer stories, craft the story.

2. Understand their frame of reference – Your world view is but one, place yourself in theirs; ask for clarification of terms i.e. When you say this, do you mean that?

3. Build rapport; your content/language, verbal qualities, non-verbal qualities

4. Ask great questions; ones that serve the purpose of the conversation and lead to greater mutual understanding.

5. Listen empathetically; from their frame of reference, not yours.

There’s a lot beneath these; but awareness is a good starting point.

John

www.bowlandsolutions.com