To practice Conversational Leadership, it is essential to understand the difference between Conversational Leadership mindset, skills, habits, and methods.
This chapter focuses on methods
A Conversational Leadership mindset is our mental attitudes, approaches, or ways of thinking about practicing Conversational Leadership. Our beliefs, values, and experiences shape it, impacting our ability to hold productive conversations and practice effective leadership.
Conversational Leadership skills involve facilitating open and constructive conversations, actively listening, building trust, and empowering others to collaborate towards shared goals.
Conversational Leadership habits are how we use those abilities daily, such as avoiding judgment, showing empathy, and being present in a conversation. We develop these habits and tendencies over time through repeated actions and experiences.
Conversational Leadership methods are structured conversational processes that bring a group of people together to discuss a topic or an issue.
Developing our Conversational Leadership mindset, skills, habits, and methods improves our ability to lead and communicate effectively.
A conversational method is a method of facilitation that helps create more open and inclusive conversations among a group. It is designed to empower individuals and groups to take more ownership of the conversation, regardless of their role or position within an organization.
Conversational methods are based on the idea that traditional communication and decision-making structures, such as hierarchical decision-making, can limit participation and the potential for new ideas and perspectives.
Several vital elements characterize conversational methods:
- They aim to encourage participation from all group members, regardless of hierarchy or experience.
- They provide a clear structure for the conversation but allow for flexibility and adaptation to the group’s specific needs.
- They are designed to be simple and easy to use, making them accessible to people of all skill levels.
- They are meant to be used in various settings and situations, from team meetings to community engagement.
Various conversational methods exist (processes, practices, methodologies, tools, or techniques). Many of them have exotic names, but don’t be put off by the jargon if you are unfamiliar with them.
The methods that are most relevant to Conversational Leadership are the ones that can be used daily by almost anyone.
These methods do not need a professional facilitator or fancy away days. And importantly most of them can be used without permission from more senior management.
Methods include anecdote circles, knowledge cafés, world cafés, after-action reviews, peer assists, open space, randomized coffee trials, and many more.
Tag: conversational methods (3)
Conversational Leadership Methods
- Improving Performance with After-action Reviews Building a culture of improvement
- Anecdote Circles A narrative technique to guide participants in sharing stories
- Conversation Covenant Creating a psychologically safer space for difficult conversations
- Brainstorming A group discussion to produce a list of ideas or solutions to a problem.
- Brown-bag Lunches ** An informal opportunity to learn at work
- C-group Develop your interpersonal and conversational skills
- Bridging Divides **
- Community of Innovation ** A form of community of practice that is dedicated to the support of innovation.
- Community of Practice ** A group of people who share a passion for something they do
- Connection Before Content Without relatedness, no work can occur
- Conversare Events Social gatherings which people engage in one-to-one conversation with a stranger
- Understanding Debates Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it
- The Dérive An unplanned journey through a urban landscape
- Dialogue Dialogue is a disciplined form of conversation
- Dialogic Organization Development From a dialogic perspective, change results from transformational conversations
- Flipped Teaching Speech is a bad medium for communicating information - so watch lectures at home
- The Power of Team Huddles How brief team gatherings can align, motivate, and connect
- The Oracy Lab An experimental space for exploring the power and possibilities of conversations
- Ongoing Performance Conversations From annual performance reviews to on-going performance conversations
- Open Space Technology ** No formal agenda
- Peer Learning Unlocking collective wisdom
- Peer Assist Learn from your peers; someone has already done it
- Pitching by Conversation ** Ditch the pitch
- Randomised Coffee Trials It is just a coffee, but at the same time it is much more
- Ritual Dissent ** A structured way for a group of peers to criticize proposals or ideas
- Speed Consulting Drawing on the experience of others
- Speed-conversation Without relatedness, no work can occur
- Street Epistemology Exploring deeply held beliefs
- Reverse Brainstorming Café Brainstorming the opposite of what you want
- Theodore Zeldin’s Conversation Dinners Dinner and a stimulating conversation with a stranger
- Town Hall Meeting ** A meeting in which a report is made and participants have an opportunity to ask questions
- Unhurried Conversations ** Time to think differently
- World Café A conversational process intended to facilitate open and intimate discussion
Resources
- Website: NCDD Resource Center
- Website: Liberating Structures
- Website: GameStorming
- Website: Art of Hosting
- Website: Priya Parker
Posts that link to this post
- The Four Levels of Knowledge Management The relation between Conversational Leadership and Knowledge Management
- Knowledge Café: Naming You don't have to call it a Knowledge Café
- Introduction: Practicing Conversational Leadership Anyone can practice conversational leadership
- Three Questions for Meaningful Conversations Clarify focus, approach, and community-building in discussions
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