Unfettered Chats,Trust & Psychological Safety
Issue No 26
Social media tends to encourage shallow conversations. We tend to highlight only what is bright and shiny. One of the best things I read this past week was all about ways to build deep conversations. The kind of conversations that remove the chains that restrict us. The people I can have ‘unfettered conversations’ with are the relationships I treasure. What can you do to have such a conversation?
Asking open ended questions (which cannot be answered in a yes or no) can encourage a conversation with a sulking teenager. Starting the conversation with “What was it like. …” or “Tell me about a time …” or “How did you manage to cope when you learned that …” is a great starter.
Try thinking about any one of these questions and share that response with a friend.
What crossroads are you at? What commitments have you made that you no longer believe in? Who do you feel most grateful to have in your life? What problem did you have but have since then overcome? In what ways are you sliding backward? What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Email me at abhijitbhaduri@live.com
In this sketchnote I have tried to share ways that encourage depth in relationships. Read more
Share this with a friend who may benefit from having an unfettered chat with you.
Psychological safety
If you think it is hard to have an unfettered chat with someone, then maybe the missing component to build is ‘psychological safety’. Studies show that psychological safety allows for moderate risk-taking, speaking your mind, creativity, and sticking your neck out without fear of being ridiculed (even if it is behind your back).
One of the biggest areas businesses are struggling with is to build trust through a virtual medium. You may like to ask your team ‘If you admit a mistake in your team, what is the likelihood of it being used against you later?’
Here are some ways in which you can create a psychologically safe workplace: Read More
Complexity intimidates. Simple communication from the heart encourages others to feel open enough to trust you. What do you do to build psychological safety? Leave a comment.
Twitter tips
Every platform has its own grammar. What works on Twitter does not work on LinkedIn or Instagram. Here are a few things I have compiled from Twitter’s tips on what they recommend. While a lot of people talk about the toxicity of Twitter, I find that every platform will offer what you look for. I use Twitter as a discovery and search tool for getting new ideas. I use it to look for people who “work out loud”. These are people who share their work even as it is still evolving. When people share their work in progress it triggers other creators to add to their ideas.
To be able to get discovered on twitter, here are few ideas I sourced from Twitter’s official guide. This post will help you make your Twitter profile shine.
Pro Tip: Tweet as often as you eat.
Five books that help you deal with the pandemic
I was thrilled that my baby (Dreamers & Unicorns) was featured in the list! This is a #ProudDaddy moment.
Voice Assistant’s Personality Designer
I thought I will share some excerpts and trivia from my book Dreamers and Unicorns
The next time you use a voice assistant like Amazon’s Alexa, or Siri on Apple or Google Assistant, remember that there is a team of people who have ‘designed the personality’ of the assistant. Yes, that is a real job.
Transitions coach: do you need one?
Transitions are tough and they evoke feelings of uncertainty. I spoke to Deepak Jayaraman in the latest episode of my podcast. I explored his own transitions from a career driven by poaching to coaching. Why it helps to have a coach who can help you what to do next as you plan your next career transition.
Hint: You are better off planning your career transition when you are doing well. Would you agree?
Does your face look trustworthy?
Did you know that corporate auditors charged both male and female C-suite clients less if they trust the looks. Yes, it is irrational, but humans are emotional creatures. What is a trustworthy face? Research shows that a round face, with a wide (not pointed) chin, and flat rather than arched eyebrows create the feeling of trust? Read more here $
If you don’t believe this, look at the faces of these cats. Each one will evoke a feeling in you. Which of these cats would you trust? Vote and find out if others agree with you.
Why does it matter. You may not be able to change your looks, but you can do simple things to build trust.
Admit when you don't know something.
Admit when you're wrong.
If you say you'll do it, do it.
Building trust during a crisis is more important than other times. “Trust” today is the new currency. As we enter the post-pandemic world of work, trust between the employer and employee will need to be regenerated because many promises have been broken. Whether it is trust between employer and employee or between the business and consumers or stakeholders, authenticity is the greatest trust builder.
h/t: Rajiv Bhalla
That is all for this week. If you want to join this group, please add your email here:
See you next Monday at 9:00am IST in the next edition of my newsletter. Stay curious, stay safe.
