Showing posts with label crucial conversations. Show all posts
Several years ago, long-time family and friends got together over the holidays for a good meal. Grown children were back in the nest, and we enjoyed the repast reminiscing about days gone by.
The conversation, however, drifted into a discussion regarding what we remember as the most upsetting or painful interaction we had with our parent/child. For example, one son mentioned his father yelling at him across a blackjack table, "If you're not going to play RIGHT, don't play at all."
What emerged was that every child had a painful memory that the parent had no recollection of doing. Similarly, parents held onto a moment of regret that did not even register as important to the child.
........................................................................
A HR manager who has served an organization for a significant period of time has likely had many a difficult conversation with his or her work "family."
It would not be surprising that many of these managers have held on to memories of painful discussions they have had with some of their current employees.
However, if the discussion with our friends is any indication, it is likely those employees are not hung up on those past interactions.
The theme of the 2015 SHRM Annual Conference was "tHRive." If today's managers want to truly thrive, they'd be wise to let go of those interactions that haunt them. They are not as important as one would believe.
- 11 comments • Category: #SHRM15, crucial conversations, employee relations
- Share on Twitter, Facebook, Delicious, Digg, Reddit
Growing up, it is not uncommon for many of your childhood friends to be the children of your parents' friends. The parents would get together for dinner and drinks and, inevitably, the kids would be thrown into the mix.
A couple of years ago, we had a holiday gathering with some of those long-time family friends. We were reminiscing on the many memories we shared, and the question arose from one of our parents, "What do you feel was the worst thing we did as parents?" The grown-up kids went around the room sharing what they felt was the biggest transgression they experienced. Looking around the room, jaws were agape, as the parents were not expecting the answer that was given.
So, we turned it around and put the burden on the parents; "What do you feel most guilty about as a parent?" Again, stories were told, and, much to their dismay, we had little no recollection of the things that haunted them.
With that in mind, you may want to ask your employees or boss similar questions. You just might be as surprised as we were with the answer you get.
- Leave your comment • Category: communication, crucial conversations, employee relations
- Share on Twitter, Facebook, Delicious, Digg, Reddit
