Take care with asking "why"
In a work context, asking "why" something is a certain way may feel innocuous, but implicitly you're directing others to provide a rationale. With a good »
Chess versus poker analogies
When making decisions, I often use analogies related to chess. For example, I'll say I need to think a few moves heads, or figure out how »
Persuasion through fact finding
People often disagree because they aren't working from the same facts. Especially in a work setting, if your team is out of alignment regarding how to »
Monroe's motivated sequence
People who read a lot of news recognize that many articles follow a similar structure. Speeches also have a standard formula - Monroe's motivated sequence. So, »
The Proust Questionnaire
The Proust Questionnaire is an interesting way to get to know someone (or even yourself). The questions dig beyond typical platitudes and start to uncover what »
Don’t take "yes" for an answer
When people say "yes," they aren't necessarily agreeing with you. Culturally, we're conditioned to be friendly and for many people saying "no" can feel uncooperative or »
Nonviolent communication
Nonviolent communication provides an approach to discuss change within oneself, between people, and within groups in personal and professional settings. The strategy is built on the »