Coach Andrea’s Intro

Many of my clients have been reporting contentious conversation with coworkers and direct reports. Maybe it’s the heat of summer, although we’ve had beautiful weather this week here in MA. In the ’70s during the day! This week’s Tip from Angie and Courtney has you consider the other person’s perspective before jumping into defending your own position.

Great advice on how to keep your cool!

Quote of the Week

“The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.”

- Joseph Jouber

Seek Resolution, Not Revolution

By Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch

Take a moment today to think about an argument or heated discussion that you have had recently. It might have been a disagreement with a coworker, a fight with your spouse or a conflict with a friend. Whatever the case, think, not about the subject of the conversation, but about your underlying motivations.

How much of the conflict centered around your own ego? If you are really honest with yourself, as the conversation progressed, wasn’t the disagreement less about the topic at hand and more about your need to be right?

As a leader, you must work on your ability to take others’ views and opinions into account. If the topic involved was important enough to invest your energy in the argument, then what you really seek is resolution not revolution.

So, the next time you find yourself embroiled in an argument, stop and check your ego. Before you vigorously defend your own position, take a moment to consider the opposing perspective. After all, it’s not about being right, it’s about making progress!

This article was provided courtesy of Lead Star – a premiere leadership development firm. You can learn more about leadership by visiting their website at www.leadstar.us

Coaching Call To Action

This week expand your perspective by seeing situations through the other person’s eyes. What do you learn about them? Yourself?

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