How To Have Conversations That Make Things Happen

• Are willing and able to do the work being discussed.
• Clearly articulate, explain and agree upon specific deliverables.
• Openly negotiate, define, commit to, and document specific due dates and times.
• Eagerly discuss difficult issues with compassion and empathy.
• Keep their conversations short and focused on the above only.

When you look at what’s included in conversations that make things happen, it seems pretty simple. So, why do most of our conversations include people that:

• Don’t ask questions to define objectives and create clarity.
• Make loose or nonexistent commitments.
• Complain about what’s not working rather than working to find solutions.
• Feel the need to demonstrate that they’re working harder than others or know better than others.
• Won’t carry their weight and take risks.
• Aren’t willing to learn new skills.
• Waste time telling stories that make others out to be the bad guys getting in the way of making things work.

Are some people good and others bad? That’s the common consideration but I don’t think so. That would be quite cynical. Rather, I think these are learned behaviors. And, if they’re learned behaviors, they can be unlearned.

Maybe you’ll consider sharing this with your team, the people you work with, and your friends who have big dreams. If you all print it out and tape it up wherever you have conversations about work. It may just help them (and you) make big things happen.