Search Video Library for: Leadership
Understand Preconceived Notions - A Quick Conversation
Hear the word flour and what comes to mind is probably baking, bread, and pizza crust. The preconceived notion that flour is only found in baked goods can lead to surprise when it is discovered that it can also be an ingredient in: pasta sauce, hot dogs, salad dressing, soup, taco sauce, and even dog food. Having preconceived notions about other people is like assuming that you know all of the ingredients of an item of food just by looking at it.
Understand Your Significance - A Quick Conversation
Both captains and lighthouse keepers have roles that, although different, are important to the navigation of ships. Likewise, each position within a company plays an important role in helping the company to navigate the global marketplace. When employees understand how their role contributes to team success, they are able to take pride in doing their job well and in contributing to the overall progress of the company.
Understanding Context - A Quick Conversation
When a rubber band is stretched taut it has potential energy. This potential energy is only important if the rubber band is released and the band moves towards a target. A diverse team can also have incredible intrinsic potential. However, if team members do not feel comfortable contributing their unique ideas, they will not release their great potential energy towards the target of innovation.
Understanding From Experience - A Quick Conversation
A documentary about life in the sea will provide knowledge about ocean life. However, that knowledge is enhanced when it is combined with the experience of scuba diving. The combined knowledge and experience deepens your understanding of the sea exponentially. Scuba diving augments book knowledge with a visceral experience. The act of learning about people with different cultural backgrounds can be viewed in a similar way. Learning about a culture by reading a book or talking to people from that culture gives you a base of knowledge.
Understanding Hidden Beauty - A Quick Conversation
The majority of the time, a male peacock looks ordinary and small. However, when given an opportunity to showcase himself, he becomes a world-renown beauty. While he has the beauty every day, it is only when he feels duty-bound to be his best, that it is displayed and appreciated. People can be like peacocks. When they are not given opportunities to shine, they don’t let their true beauty show.
Understanding Impact - A Quick Conversation
A single drop of water splashing against a rock may not seem to have an erosive impact. However, there is power in water drops, for over time water has the strength to wear down stone. The Colorado River, which began millions of years ago as a drop of water, carved the Grand Canyon. Positive every day actions are like water drops. While each act may not seem to have much impact, over time, the cumulative impact of many drops of water can wear down fear, negativity, and resistance to help forge a new path ahead.
Understanding Passion - A Quick Conversation
The energy of a “match on the pitch” comes from a group of people sharing in their common passion. Being in the midst of your passion is an energizing experience. It is obvious when people are in their passion: their eyes light up, excitement fills their voice, and they are “in the zone.” Inquiring about a co-worker’s passion is a great way to gain insight into a person that you work with. Demonstrating a desire to understand a co-worker’s passion enables you to build connections and begin to create common ground.
Understanding Perceived Value - A Quick Conversation
During the Revolutionary War, lobster was considered such inferior food that it was used to feed the British prisoners, and even they revolted against it. With the advent of railroads, trains brought lobster to the Midwesterners, who had no cultural bias, and found it to be a delicacy. Gradually, New Englanders came to the same conclusion. Often it takes an outside perspective to realize the inherent value that is already on your team and within your company.
Understanding the Fear - A Quick Conversation
Jumping out of an airplane might seem insane to some people, while to others it is an exhilarating and often repeated experience. What makes one person deeply afraid may not be at all scary to another person. Much of what causes people to react with fear to a situation are perceptions and assumptions about what that situation will be like. After facing their fears, people often realize that the perception of the experience created more fear than the experience itself.
Discussion Card: Creating a Civil Workplace
Being civil means interacting and responding courteously and respectfully. These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (C.I.V.I.L.) along with thought-provoking questions on being polite towards others. These cards are great for a quick training reminder, reinforcement or as a conversation generator.
Discussion Card: Inclusive Workplaces
These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (I.N.C.L.U.D.E.) along with thought-provoking questions on creating inclusiveness in the workplace. These cards are great for a quick training reminder or conversation starter.
Discussion Card: Micro-Affirmations
These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (I.N.V.O.L.V.E.) along with thought-provoking questions on small actions that include people. These cards are great for a quick training reminder or conversation starter.
Discussion Card: Micro-inequities
These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (I.G.N.O.R.E.) along with thought-provoking questions on small actions that tend to exclude people. These cards are great for a quick training reminder or conversation starter.
Discussion Card: Multicultural Interactions
These easy-to-use cards provide a model (C.U.L.T.U.R.E.) and questions to address common issues in the multicultural workplace. These cards are great for a quick training reminder or conversation starter.
Discussion Card: Resolving Conflict
When it comes to resolving conflict, we all know it can be tough - especially if you don't have a plan! These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (R.E.S.O.L.V.E.) along with thought-provoking questions on better understanding & addressing conflict. Great for a quick training reminder, reinforcement or as a conversation generator.
Discussion Card: Starting Conversations
When it comes to having a tough conversation, just starting is often the most difficult part. These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (S.P.E.A.K.) along with thought-provoking questions to create a respectful flow of communication. These cards are great for a quick training reminder, reinforcement or as a conversation generator for all employees and managers.
Discussion Card: The Power of Recovering
When we say (or do) something that negatively impacts a co-worker, it's often hard to know what to do to mend the relationship. Recovering a relationship is important to moving past the issue(s). These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (R.E.C.O.V.E.R.) along with thought-provoking questions on effective ways to tackle the tough discussions with grace and respect. These cards are great for a quick training reminder, reinforcement or as a conversation generator.
Discussion Card: Working Across Gender
These colorful, easy-to-use cards provide a working across gender model (G.E.N.D.E.R.) and questions to address common gender-specific issues in the workplace. These cards are great for a quick training reminder or conversation starter.
Discussion Card: Working on Diverse Teams
These easy-to-use, straight-to-the-point cards provide a simple model (R.E.S.P.E.C.T.) and questions to address common team issues and areas for improvement. These cards are great for a quick training reminder or conversation starter.
Discussion Card: Working with Integrity
These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y.) along with thought-provoking questions on truth and honesty in the workplace. These cards are great for a quick training reminder or conversation starter.