“Management is a social act.” –Lisa Haneberg, Management Craft.

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When I arrived, she was in her office with a clear desk. Ellen was curious. She had a new department and had real concerns about a smooth transition. She started the conversation before I settled into a chair. “You promised a powerful tool, today.”

I nodded, “Yes, I did. Today we are going to talk about conversation.”

“Conversation?” Ellen looked puzzled.

“Most everything a manager accomplishes is done through conversation. Think about it Ellen. When you set goals with your team, you engage in conversation. When you troubleshoot a problem on the line, you engage in conversation. When you hold a team member accountable for performance, you engage in conversation. The ability of a manager to engage in meaningful, genuine conversation translates into effectiveness.”

“Well, I know how to talk to people,” Ellen retorted.

“Talking to people and engaging people are different levels of conversation. We spoke the other day about showing genuine interest in each of your team members. It is the beginning of all the other conversations you will have with each person as their manager.

“By the way, it is a skill that can be learned.” -TF

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Registration is filling for both our programs in Fort Lauderdale. The Management program (www.workingmanagement.com) kicks off on September 25, the Sales program (www.workingsales.com) kicks off September 27.