Archive for category: Human Resources Management

You are here: / / Human Resources Management

Human Resources Management Articles on a variety of HR topics, Diversity and inclusion, leadership and more, offered by the Red Shoe Movement

How To Keep Work Meetings Engaging and Productive?

in , /by

Love or hate them, meetings are an important part of any organization. The challenge is in knowing how to keep work meetings engaging and productive. We know. It’s not an easy feat. 

Our time working remotely taught us some valuable lessons about the pros and cons of both in-person meetings and the new virtual variety that took over as we adjusted to working from home. Some people found it easier to speak up and make themselves heard through a screen. This made many managers realize the value in voices that weren’t being heard.

How to keep work meetings engaging and productive- Photo Credit- Christina Wocin-Unsplash

How to keep work meetings engaging and productive- Photo Credit- Christina Wocin-Unsplash

However, if your team is finding these meetings tedious and can’t see what their point is, they will eventually have a negative impact. After all, no one likes to feel like they are wasting time. The ability to keep work meetings engaging and productive will not only improve the quality of work and boost team confidence, but also showcase your positive leadership skills.

Lateral Thinking: Find More Innovative Solutions Faster!

Why Is it Important to Keep Work Meetings Engaging and Productive?

According to the Harvard Business Review, meetings help “every individual understand both the collective aim of the group and the way in which their own and everyone else’s work can contribute to the group’s success.” If done right, keeping work meetings engaging and productive can motivate your team to keep up the good work and reach their goals with more enthusiasm.

In addition, work meetings tend to be “the only time when the leader is ever perceived to be guiding a team,” which means that the success of your meetings could also affect the way a team perceives your abilities to lead them. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Being able to run things smoothly will reassure your colleagues by letting them see you’re prepared and know what you want from them.

There are key ways to keep work meetings engaging and productive- Photo Credit- Pixabay

There are key ways to keep work meetings engaging and productive- Photo Credit- Pixabay

Velvet Hammer Leadership and Why It Works

Long Meetings Can Make Your Team Less Productive

A study surveying 182 senior managers in different industries found that: “65% said meetings keep them from completing their own work. 71% said meetings are unproductive and inefficient. 64% said meetings come at the expense of deep thinking. 62% said meetings miss opportunities to bring the team closer together.”

Other surveys have reported a low percentage of executives who believe that their meetings are a generally productive use of group and individuals’ time. The vast majority of the 200 senior executives polled believe that meetings can often become wasters of individual time, team time or, even worse, both.

5 Tactics to Help You Focus at Work
Virtual work meetings can be engaging and productive if you know how to manage them-Unsplash

Virtual work meetings can be engaging and productive if you know how to manage them-Unsplash

8 Ways to Keep Work Meetings Engaging and Productive

1Decide if meeting needs to be synchronous or asynchronous and for whom. Does the information being shared need to be consumed synchronously by everyone or can some team members listen to a recording of the session at a more convenient time? This is the most critical decision you can make to keep your work meeting engaging and productive. It’s a mistake to think everyone needs to be present at every meeting.

2Set specific goals for every meeting: Do you know what the purpose of the meeting is? Creating and agenda and sticking to it can help keep work meetings engaging and productive and reduce meeting time significantly.

3Define who really needs to be there: Knowing the type of meeting and the goals will make it easier to define who needs to be involved in the meeting. Save people’s time by not asking them to attend meetings they can avoid.

4Stick to strict time limits not only for the meeting but for individual’s participation: This will help in several ways. To begin with, it’ll let employees and coworkers know that you value their time. It will train people to be concise. People will also find it easier to participate if they know they won’t have to compete for a moment to be heard. Start and end meetings on time so everyone will know they can still plan their workday around meetings without wasting too much time before or after.

5Rotate hosts: Giving all members of a team a chance to be the host or the co-host of a meeting where they will gain exposure, makes it more likely that people will look forward to participate. It’s a great opportunity to test leadership skills.

6Make sure everyone has the information they need: Send the agenda ahead of time so attendees can prepare questions or any comments. This will keep work meetings engaging and productive. After the meeting, share the highlights as well as any actionable follow-up tasks discussed during the meeting. Meetings don’t feel like a waste when you walk out of them with a clear idea about what should happen next. 

Overcoming Impostor Syndrome and Building Confidence 

7Give everyone a chance to speak: Make sure you carve out time for people to share their work, input and concerns in a safe environment.

8Set milestones and keep an eye on everyone’s progress: Don’t shy away from celebrating victories or acknowledging shortfalls. It’s critical to use mistakes as a learning opportunity that is celebrated too.

Lateral Thinking: Find More Innovative Solutions Faster!

in , /by

Lateral thinking has two functions: to generate creative ideas and to solve problems. The more we exercise it, the more and better solutions we find to all sorts of challenges. Don’t miss this mind bending post!

What is lateral thinking?

“There are six eggs in one basket. There are six people. Each one takes an egg. How is it possible that in the end there is still an egg in the basket? ”

(Answer: The last person was left with the basket with an egg.)

This is a typical challenge that requires the use of lateral thinking. Why? Because more than data or logical reasoning, this problem demands mental processes related to insight, creativity and ingenuity.

Family, education and culture stimulate memory and vertical thinking, based on logic, which is a necessary but insufficient skill. We have two cerebral hemispheres, each specialized in one type of processing: the left is rational and the right is creative. We need to develop both sides and integrate them to be more effective in solving problems.

To incorporate lateral thinking into your life you simply practice specific creative techniques that allow you to use it at will. It’s like going to the gym, but in this case, to keep your mind in shape.

Lateral Thinking quote Edward de Bono

Lateral Thinking quote Edward de Bono

Two styles of thinking: vertical and lateral

The term lateral thinking was coined by Edward de Bono in the 1960s to differentiate it from conventional or vertical thinking, the type of thinking based on experiences, assumptions, and deductions. Using memory and vertical thinking means applying a higher dose of the same solution to a problem. In other words, they lead us to dig deeper into the same well.

Instead, with lateral thinking we dig a well in another place. And if it doesn’t work, we try another, or instead of a well we dig a tunnel, or rethink the basic approach. Because in addition to a type of mental processing, lateral thinking is a method for using information that considers that there are always several possibilities to approach a situation. Different from vertical thinking which assumes there’s only one correct way.

The aim of lateral thinking is not to come up with correct ideas, but to generate a great number of them. Then, at a later stage, you can apply vertical thinking to analyze the ideas you came up with, improve them, discard the invalid ones, choose the best ones and test them.

Want to develop this type of skills? Join our Step Up Plus program!
It's important to know at what stage to use vertical thinking and when to use lateral thinking

It’s important to know at what stage to use vertical thinking and when to use lateral thinking

The 3 types of problems

You could define a problem as the difference between what you have and what you want to have.

By breaking down established models, lateral thinking liberates the information these models contain challenging assumptions and prejudices. This facilitates the creation of new models and mental structures, connections and processing styles. Not in a fixed way, but rather so that they can be decomposed as often as necessary.

According to Edward De Bono there are three types of problems:

1 Those that require more information. They are solved by vertical thinking, such as mathematical problems and police puzzles, which involve a logical sequence that increases with new data. Its a linear approach to a single possible solution.

2Those that do not require more information, but a reorganization or restructure of the available information. They are resolved through the use we make of data, new associations or connections, imagination and even questioning our vertical thinking. These problems are usually are based on a new perspective, a new mental process, a discovery or a series of partial ideas that bring us closer to the best solution.

This is the case of the classic lateral thinking conundrum: a gardener is instructed to plant 4 trees so that they are all equidistant. How can you plant them?

I won’t post the answer here to help you force your methods of rearranging the data I gave you. If you want to know the answer you can send me a note: bbensignor@gmail.com.

3Those that are not recognized as a problem. They have to do with perception and can’t be resolved until they are detected. They may also require a change of perspective, as in the previous case. Here we don’t even realize that we have a problem to solve. In this case, you need an increase of focus and sensitivity to the unexpected in order to perceive what you don’t know.

Lateral Thinking

Lateral Thinking

Impossible cube

Most people see a cube in this image of Escher. But it is a virtual figure: the front and back edges intersect. It is an example of a problem that goes unnoticed.

 

 

A perfect example of a problem that goes unnoticed.

A perfect example of a problem that goes unnoticed.

5 techniques to develop creativity

Lateral thinking can be trained by practicing specific techniques to develop your creativity.

Some of them are:

1Search for alternatives

An example: how can a square be divided into four equal parts? (Take a few seconds before viewing the following pictures.)

Solution: alternatives, from the easiest to the less usual:

Solution 1 to divide a square into four equal parts

Solution 1 to divide a square into four equal parts

Solution 2 to divide a square into four equal parts

Solution 2 to divide a square into four equal parts

Solution 3 to divide a square into four equal parts

Solution 3 to divide a square into four equal parts

2Assumptions review: lateral thinking does not accept or reject the validity of assumptions about a topic, its objective is to question and restructure them as often as necessary.

An example: two players, O and X, mark the spaces of a 3 × 3 board alternately. A player wins if he manages to have a line of three of his symbols: the line can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. (Take a few seconds before you see the next image.)

Solution:

Reviewing assumptions

Reviewing assumptions

Surely, the first thing you thought about was that I cheated. I would have done it if I had explained that it was the Tic Tac Toe game. That is your assumption: at no time did I clarify that it was the traditional game and that therefore the limits of the board should not be exceeded.

3Redefining the dominant idea: a dominant idea is the theme or principle around which a situation or problem revolves. If it is not grasped, it will influence the thinking that will limit possible solutions. It is easier to escape the influence of something that is known than that which is ignored.

An example: a man lives on the 10th floor of a building. Every day he takes the elevator to the seventh floor and then climbs up the stairs the remaining three floors to his apartment on the tenth. Why does he do this? (Take a few seconds before reading the solution.)

Solution: he was little person.

The dominant idea of ​​this riddle, as in most, is that it is a person of a standard height. And it is that idea what limits the possibility of resolution.

To see "old" things or concepts as new requires practice.

To see “old” things or concepts as new requires practice.

4Dividing technique: if a situation is divided into parts that constitute it, it is possible to restructure the situation by reordering the parts. It is important not try to find preexisting elements, but to create parts, breaking up the situation in an artificial way. This also facilitates the generation of new models, applicable to future (not necessarily similar) situations.

An example: if we are trying to solve the problem of “transportation by bus”, we could divide the situation as follows:

  • Selection of itineraries
  • Frequency of services
  • Comfort of the service
  • Total probable number of travelers
  • Probable number of travelers at different times of day
  • Bus capacity
  • Other means of transportation
  • Cost and income
  • Number of travelers who depend mainly on the bus service and number of them who can easily use other forms of transportation

5Inversion method: this technique is more lateral in nature than the previous one. The problem is considered in its real structure and is inverted in one direction or another, from top to bottom, from outside to inside, causing a forced rearrangement of information.

Example: In the famous fable of Aesop, the water in the vessel was too deep for the bird to drink. The bird began to imagine means of extracting the water from the jar, without reaching any satisfactory solution. Then she reversed the focus of the problem and instead of thinking about the means of drawing water, she thought she could introduce elements into the vessel to bring the water up. In fact, she began to throw stones until she was able to drink.

Innovative ideas

Innovative ideas

Want to play and practice your lateral thinking?

Here are 3 classic riddles of lateral thinking. With this exercise you can start your training. Go ahead!

1Two chess players. Two excellent chess players played five games in one day, and each of them won three. How is that possible?

2Coal, carrot and cap. Five pieces of charcoal, a whole carrot and an elegant cap are thrown in the garden. Nobody has lost them and they’ve been in the grass for the same amount of time. How did they get there?

3You are driving your car on a terrible storm night. You pass by a bus stop where three people are waiting:

  • An old woman who seems about to die.
  • An old friend who saved your life once.
  • The perfect man or the woman of your dreams.

Who would you take in the car, since you only have room for one passenger?

Solutions:

Answer 1: They did not play with each other, but against other opponents.

Answer 2: They are the remains of a melted snowman.

Answer 3: Unlike the previous ones, this is an ethical-moral dilemma that was once used in a job interview. You could take the old lady, because she’s going to die and therefore you should save her first. Or you could take your friend, since he saved your life and you are indebted to him. But if you take these options you may never meet the lover of your dreams again.

The candidate who was hired from 200 applicants did not hesitate. What did he answer? Very simply: “I would give my car keys to my friend, and I would ask him to take the old woman to the hospital, while I would wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams.”

We can always overcome the apparent limitations of each problem by learning to think creatively.

How do you plan to deal with problems after training in these creative techniques?

Diverse Relationships and How They Boost Our Creativity

in , /by

The people we surround ourselves with tend to inspire us. They influence our taste and color our opinions, often enriching our views by providing a perspective that’s unlike our own. These shared perceptions make it easy to see the great benefit of diverse relationships and how they boost our creativity both personally and professionally.

It’s more than just a feeling. The connection between our ideas and the people with whom we have relationships is real.  And while the familiar may be were we’re the most comfortable, it’s when we expose ourselves to people and cultures, we don’t know that we thrive the most creatively. Studies have found that these moments where our views and experiences intersect with others help us create and think outside the box.

Diverse relationships have the power to increase your creativity- Photo Credit- Ali Yahya- Unsplash

Diverse relationships have the power to increase your creativity- Photo Credit- Ali Yahya- Unsplash

What is the Edge Effect?

The edge effect is an ecological concept which describes a greater diversity of life in the regions where two different ecosystems overlap. Known as ecotones, these transition areas are places where species from either of the adjacent ecosystems can easily live and thrive. But is here too where new life that is completely unique to these combined environments is created. Life that can’t be found anywhere else.

A similar thing happens when we think about us and the deep connections we form with people from other cultures or, on a smaller scale, those who have different backgrounds and views than our own. These collaborations and their diversity become the perfect environment for innovation and creativity to happen. For possibilities that could only blossom as a result of those unique and diverse relationships.

Meeting of Strangers Proves Diverse Relationships Make a Difference

The cellist Yo-Yo Ma decided to answer the question by creating the Silk Road Ensemble, an “innovative experiment” involving different world-class musicians from all over the world. Silk Road “creates music that engages difference, sparking radical cultural collaboration and passion-driven learning for a more hopeful and inclusive world.” It achieves this by mixing sounds as different as the Galician bagpipes and the Chinese yangqin. The result is as beautiful as it is unlikely and unique.

These musicians have created a fusion of music which works as a reminder of the extraordinary things that can be found in these diverse alliances. Of all the beauty that can happen when each of their specific backgrounds and fields learn to harmonize with each other to create something new. The ensemble has seven albums, including their Grammy winning Sing Me Home. 

Photo Credit- Massimo-Sartirana-Unsplash

Photo Credit- Massimo-Sartirana-Unsplash

Diverse Relationships Boost Our Creativity

Adam Galinsky, a professor of business at Columbia Business School, found that people who have been involved with someone from another country become more creative and do better in routine creativity tests that those who haven’t. According to Galinsky, “there’s something about deeply understanding and learning about another culture that’s transformative.”

Through a couple of studies, Galinsky and his colleagues found not only that intercultural romantic relationships made students more creative, but that even looking back on having had that kind of deep connection with someone from another country can spark an enhancement in their creativity. It wasn’t just about being with someone from a different culture, but their willingness to immerse themselves and truly learn about it. Casual friendships won’t do, since a deep understanding of another culture is a key part of expanding your creativity.

Long term diverse relationships have a positive impact in your creativity- Photo Credit- Christina Wocin -Unsplash

Long term diverse relationships have a positive impact in your creativity- Photo Credit- Christina Wocin -Unsplash

24 Hours to Change Gender Equity Reality

Increased Creativity at Work

Engaging with people from other cultures has a transformational effect in how we view the world, but it also impacts the way we relate to the world and our work. According to a study that surveyed people who worked in the United States between two months or three years, the more they kept in touch with their American friends and colleagues, the more ambitious and risk-taking they proved to be once they returned to their home country.

Additionally, companies are beginning to find that their more diverse teams tend to perform better. They are seeing increased creativity and innovation, better problem-solving, higher engagement and a better reputation not only for those involved in the teams, but for the companies and businesses that house them. It’s not just about our friends and partners. Diversity in our professional relationships also boost the collective creativity of a team.

These benefits are readily available in places like the United States, where one can choose to truly engage and learn from people from other cultures and nurture deep connections.

How to Do Allyship Right Year-Round

In his Podcast Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam (the host of the show who inspired this article) considers if perhaps the diversity that exists within the United States may have played a role in being home to around 60% of all Nobel laureates. He likes to think it has. If you’re interested in this and similar topics, subscribe to his amazing podcast.

Going Back to the Office and Dealing with Re-Entry Anxiety

in , /by

A lot of people are going back to the office and dealing with re-entry anxiety as cities start re-opening and things begin to look somewhat like our old “normal.” It’s not that simple. Things have changed and we still need to make sure we’re taking care of each other as we return to open spaces.

Going back to the office will require some adjustments from everyone. Photo Credit- Maxime-Unsplash

Going back to the office will require some adjustments from everyone. Photo Credit- Maxime-Unsplash

Just like isolation became something we had to learn and adjust to, we now need to deal with what it feels like to make it back to the office, to send kids back to school, and face the anxieties of a crisis that’s not quite over yet.

Turns out, it’s more than a little normal to feel that way about our safety and how we should behave out in the real world. How to leave those safe spaces we’ve created in the past year and interact and coexist with people outside our bubbles. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, U.S. adults report highest stress level since the early days of the pandemic.

So… What is Re-Entry Anxiety?

Going back to the office in person and to socializing can make people feel overstimulated and overwhelmed after a year of working from home. Being stuck in traffic, re-adjusting to family schedules, making it to meetings on time, and just interacting with co-workers and making small talk, are things at which we’re all a little out of practice after the 18 months we’ve had. This, it turns out, is caused by something called re-entry anxiety, and if you’ve been feeling it, you’re not alone.

Experts believe that re-entry anxiety can be experienced in two ways; the first has to do with safety and fears of somehow contracting COVID-19 and spreading it. And the second relates to social anxiety and our concerns about social distancing and interaction. Simple things like hugs, or even just handshakes, can make people feel insecure and it’s important to consider not just how we feel about it, but the ways in which it may be affecting others.

Still, we can’t hide from the world as it continues to shift and change because of the pandemic. And while it’s perfectly normal to feel uncertain about it, studies say it’s important not to avoid all the things that make us anxious. It may seem like a good idea and work for a while but, if we do it too much of it can reinforce the notion that there are threats everywhere.

4 Simple Actions to Improve Your Self-Confidence
Keeping your distance- Photo Credit Elizabeth Mcdaniel- Unsplash

Keeping your distance- Photo Credit Elizabeth Mcdaniel- Unsplash

A Few Tips Make Going Back to the Office Less Stressful

1Take it easy: Establish a routine and figure out what some of the triggers you can avoid are. Maybe you can leave earlier to avoid traffic or carpool with a co-worker you’re comfortable sharing small spaces with. If you need to, you can talk to your employer about making the shift gradual or only making it into the office a few times a week, instead of every day. If the thought of socializing is making you especially uncomfortable, try to do a little bit of it on your own time and terms. Get together with someone you trust in open spaces and try out new things to (safely) step out of your comfort zone now and then.

2Familiarize yourself with your workplace safety measures: Knowing that your employers have your back when you’re going back to the office can also reduce some of that re-entry anxiety. Are they following CDC recommendations? Have they done anything to improve the airflow in your workspace? What are their vaccination and testing policies? How is your workspace being sanitized? Do they require everyone to wear masks in closed spaces and if so, are they supplying them? Are they making it easy for employees to coexist safely? Can you still work remotely some days? Make sure you’re following their guidelines to keep everyone safe.

Going back to the office can fill you with re entry anxiety- Photo Credit- Engin Akyurt- Unsplash

Going back to the office can fill you with re entry anxiety- Photo Credit- Engin Akyurt- Unsplash

3Speak up if something doesn’t feel right: Educating yourself on both COVID-19 and the ways that your company is protecting you can also help when it’s time to speak up. If you feel like something is not quite right when going back to the office, don’t be afraid to be assertive and communicate how you’re feeling. It’s important to foster the kind of conversations that will allow everyone to address their anxieties and set boundaries. Don’t be ashamed to ask someone to pull their mask up or keep their distance. Communicate your needs.

4Take breaks and be kind to yourself: Something as simple as stepping out for a short walk can help when dealing with re-entry anxiety. It can even become something to look forward to when going back to the office. Give yourself things to be excited about, like new work outfits (not bad after working in our pj’s for so long) and accessories. Something as simple as a cool, comfortable mask can make all the difference. Going back to the office doesn’t have to be all about anxiety and this is a good time to spoil yourself a little. Find small ways to reward yourself after especially overwhelming days. Self-care is key so don’t be afraid to schedule a little pampering at some point during the day.

5Be considerate to others: Wash your hands often, wear your mask in closed spaces and keep your distance. Check in on your co-workers to see how they are dealing with re-entry anxiety and keep in mind that everyone experiences these things differently and some people have been more vulnerable than others; some have lost family and friends (you may even be one of them.) What’s okay with you could make other people feel unsafe and uncomfortable. The reverse is also true, so make sure to let others know what makes you uncomfortable as well. Ensuring everyone feels safe and listened to will make going back to the office easier on everyone.

Quiz Your Negotiation Skills!
Going back to the office requires following safety meassures- Photo Credit Alex Azabache-Unsplash

Going back to the office requires following safety meassures- Photo Credit Alex Azabache-Unsplash

Is it Time to Look for Help?

Some things can’t be taken care of by staying positive, taking it one day at a time and following safety measures. These suggestions can help but they may not be enough if you’ve had trouble dealing with re-entry anxiety such as having trouble sleeping, eating more or less than usual, and so on. If the world reopening its doors is feeling too overwhelming for you, please consider reaching out to a mental health professional. It’s been rough and there is no shame in needing a little extra help with the idea of going back to the office.

Velvet Hammer Leadership and Why It Works

in /by

Brutal honesty has traditionally been seen as a positive approach for leaders. Enter the velvet hammer leadership approach: A completely different way to lead an organization.

A sledgehammer leadership to run a tight ship  is a violently straightforward approach that has little consideration for how employees might be affected by that aggressive straightforwardness. So, if you think about it, it’s not that difficult to see the appeal of a velvet hammer leadership and understand why it works.

A sledgehammer leader will make a point to get their message across despite who is on the receiving end. Or even their perspective on the matter. A velvet hammer leadership takes a different approach: honest and firm, yes, but also aware of the kind of management that will help employees feel considered. I communicates empathically.

Photo Credit- Kelly Sikkema Bestboss-Unsplash

Photo Credit- Kelly Sikkema Bestboss-Unsplash

Velvet Hammer Leadership: What Is It?

So, what is velvet hammer leadership and why does it work?

A velvet hammer leadership requires those at the top to know and talk to the people they lead. It’s straightforward and firm but encourages leadership that considers all perspectives, listens to what the team has to say, knows how to communicate feedback constructively and clearly, and considers the importance of building a sense of community and camaraderie within a company.

The term was coined by Joy Baldridge, author of The Joy in Business: Innovative Ideas to Find Positivity (and Profit) In Your Daily Work Life. In her book, Baldrige talks about the importance of knowing how to deliver criticism and reminds her readers that our words have an effect on people, and that once something has been said, it can’t be unsaid or taken back.

“When you communicate something to somebody, it’s irreversible and irretrievable,” Baldridge says, acknowledging that these conversations can be uncomfortable and complicated for all parties involved. “It can be difficult to know what words to say in order to approach somebody and give them feedback. Whether you need to say they did or didn’t do something, it feels uncomfortable.”

Instead of making people feel attacked, insecure, disrespected, or even humiliated depending on how the “brutally honest” feedback was delivered, Baldridge suggests dealing with these conversations without violence. Velvet hammer leadership will also make a team adopt a similar style when communicating, ultimately nurturing community and connections.

Business Resilience & How to Achieve Big Dreams
Velvet hammer leadership- Photo Credit- Daria Nepriakhina-Unsplash

Velvet hammer leadership- Photo Credit- Daria Nepriakhina-Unsplash

How to Adopt a Velvet Hammer Style?

Being a velvet hammer leader doesn’t mean you should avoid giving difficult feedback. Instead, it’s more about the way you frame it. Not cushioning criticism with compliments but approaching it in a way that makes it clear that you have someone’s best interests at heart. That the feedback is meant to help them fix things and continue to thrive while making them feel listened to and supported. Fortunately, Baldridge provides a formula that’ll help with the necessary steps for leaders (and team members) to follow when you need to criticize or give feedback to someone at work.

Start by asking them for help to provide a nonthreatening setting. Baldridge says that “nothing about this is scary. And ‘I need your help’ is an international surrender of agenda. It’s a disarming way to get attention sincerely and genuinely.” Then, talk about the problem and why things can’t continue that way, making sure things are explained clearly and that people know why it’s important to you and the company. Finally, ask what they think is the best solution; make them a part of fixing the problem.

In short:

  • Think about what you want to say and make sure your criticism is constructive and improvement oriented.
  • Start the conversation by asking for their help and providing a nonthreatening setting.
  • Be clear and explain why solving this issue is important to you and your coworkers.
  • Make people a part of the solution and invite them to help fixing whatever’s wrong.

Transformational Change to Impact Communities

Velvet hammer leadership is an effective way to lead an organization- Photo Credit- Brett Jordan-Unsplash

Velvet hammer leadership is an effective way to lead an organization- Photo Credit- Brett Jordan-Unsplash

Why Does It Work?

Negative feedback is no fun (duh) and that alone can make people try to avoid it. Baldridge compares it to telling a friend they have spinach in their teeth. It needs to be said. Similarly, when something needs to be said within an organization, people tend to notice. When you approach them through Baldridge’s formula, the velvet hammer becomes “a verbal contract you are creating with another person to better yourself as a leader and better them as team member, colleague, or friend.”

Like most adjustments, it may take a little practice. It’s important for all words to be chosen carefully, and to make sure that your tone doesn’t make you  sound like you’re delivering a reprimand. Using the velvet hammer can make a difficult conversation run smoothly for everyone. And, if done right, velvet hammer leadership can turn potential conflict into thoughtful collaboration and effective problem-solving.

© Copyright 2022 - Red Shoe Movement
YOU DESERVE A CAREER AND A LIFE YOU LOVE. WE CAN HELP.

GET MARIELA DABBAH’S POWERFUL & ACCLAIMED CAREER ADVICE RIGHT IN YOUR INBOX: * Be inspired to go after your dreams and make them a reality! * Receive invitations to our FREE life-changing webinars! * Be who you are meant to be. Be you! Amplified! SUBSCRIBE NOW TO START YOUR SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY

Welcome to the Red Shoe Movement! You are Now Subscribed! Don't miss out on our communications, make sure you add us to your list of contacts!

Something went wrong.

We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously