What conversation could you have differently today? If you were to change just something small about what you say or how you say it, who you listen to and how deeply, what would it be? If you could change someone else’s life for the better, just a little bit, by saying or listening to something differently, what would it be? We’re not asking you … | Megan Reitz and John Higgins Continue reading Setting the Compass Today What conversation could you have differently today?
The Great Unheard at Work by Mark Cole and John Higgins makes the case that silence always has something to say – it’s never neutral and speaks volumes if people are willing to hear. Our response to silence is often to dismiss or end it, to block it out with noise. Instead, silence needs to Continue reading The Great Unheard at Work: Understanding Voice and Silence in Organisations Mark Cole and John Higgins (2023)
One of the ironies of speaking up is that, to the individual who makes the choice to withhold his or her knowledge in a meeting, that small act might seem insignificant. Yet, when such choices are repeatedly made in hundreds of meetings across an organization, the loss of knowledge significantly reduces the organization’s ability to act … | Amy Edmondson Continue reading One of the Ironies of Speaking Up Amy Edmondson
Psychological safety is a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes. | Amy Edmondson Continue reading Psychological Safety Is a Belief That One Will Not Be Punished for Speaking Up Amy Edmondson
Megan Reitz is a Professor of Leadership and Dialogue at Ashridge where she speaks, researches, consults and supervises on the intersection of leadership, change, dialogue and mindfulness. Search and ExploreWebsiteMegan ReitzLinkedinMegan ReitzBlogMegan ReitzRSS FeedMegan ReitzX (Twitter)@meganreitz1YouTubeMegan ReitzGoogleMegan ReitzBooks: Megan Reitz (4)Being Silenced and Silencing Others: Developing the Capacity to Speak Truth to Power Megan Reitz, Continue reading Megan Reitz Facilitator, teacher, speaker, executive coach, researcher and author
Our day-to-day conversations define how we see ourselves and how we’re seen. The choices we make about what to say and who to say it to are decisive factors in whether we get promoted, or side-lined. Whether we steer clear of trouble or find ourselves in it up to our necks. With daily scandals hitting Continue reading Speak Up: Say What Needs to Be Said and Hear What Needs to Be Heard by Megan Reitz and John Higgins (2019)
Summary The imperative for transparency that drove this report was initially twofold. Firstly, from 2014 to 2016, the world watched as a number of corporate scandals brought household names into disrepute and in some cases to their knees. Examples included emissions at VW, accounting at Toshiba and doping at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). In all these Continue reading Being Silenced and Silencing Others: Developing the Capacity to Speak Truth to Power Megan Reitz, John Higgins
How your power silences truth | Megan Reitz People: Megan Reitz (1)Megan Reitz Facilitator, teacher, speaker, executive coach, researcher and author Books: Megan Reitz (4)Being Silenced and Silencing Others: Developing the Capacity to Speak Truth to Power Megan Reitz, John Higgins Megan Reitz Facilitator, teacher, speaker, executive coach, researcher and author Speak Up: Say What Continue reading How Your Power Silences Truth Megan Reitz
Who’s listening? A small-scale research project exploring how organisations listen to employees Preface The authors believe listening is critical to improved performance and decision-making within organisations; and is more important than ever given how the nature of work and the workforce is changing, the increased focus on ethical and social purpose as well as the drive to Continue reading Who’s Listening? Howard Krais, Mike Pounsford and Kevin Ruck (2019)
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. | Martin Luther King Jr. Continue reading On Becoming Silent About Things Martin Luther King Jr.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. | Winston Churchill Continue reading Courage and Listening Winston Churchill
Many people hold back their ideas or stay quiet in groups. That silence weakens conversations and leaves potential unheard. Speaking with care and showing up with honesty helps everyone see more clearly. Continue reading Don’t Hide Your Light Under a Bushel ** Why speaking up matters in conversation and leadership
Owning Our Mistakes ** Speak Last What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Speak up: Many of us are afraid to speak up, especially to speak truth to power, and there are many barriers to being open and frank. In organizations, this results in bad decisions Continue reading Speak Up Express our opinions frankly and openly
Take responsibility for the conversation: A few participants dominate many conversations, and as a result, there is no real engagement or energy in the discussion. How can this be resolved? The solution is for us all to take responsibility for the quality of the conversations in which we engage. Continue reading Take Responsibility for the Conversation ** We all need to take responsibility for the quality of our conversations
Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order to reply? Or do we listen to discover something new? Do we enter into a conversation with a willingness to learn rather than the intent to persuade others to accept our views? Continue reading Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order to reply?
In many cultures, especially in Asia, the concept of “face” shapes social interactions and relationships. The fear of losing face or the need to give face can create barriers to honest communication and decision-making. Understanding these dynamics helps build trust and maintain harmony while encouraging open and respectful dialogue. Continue reading Losing and Giving Face The fear of losing face is a significant barrier to open conversation in many cultures
Losing and Giving Face Psychological Safety ** What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close There are many reasons why people do not speak up. Social silencing is one of them. The spiral of silence or social silencing is a phenomenon where people who think they hold Continue reading Social Silencing A phenomenon where people don’t speak up for fear of social exclusion
Social Silencing Introduction: Small Group Conversations What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Create psychological safety: Ensure people are safe for interpersonal risk-taking. Psychological safety refers to the sense of confidence and trust that individuals feel in a social setting, particularly in the workplace. It Continue reading Psychological Safety ** A shared belief that within your team it is safe to take risks
Conversational Continuous Self-improvement ** Impossible Conversations What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close A difficult conversation is unpleasant, one where we feel discomfort and awkwardness, such as asking our boss for a pay rise or confronting a neighbor. So how do we handle difficult conversations? Continue reading Difficult Conversations Navigating emotionally challenging conversations
