Section: 6 of 13
*The following tables were adapted from content from Li et al (2017), Singh et al (2013), and Varghese et al (2018).
Conversation Tips |
General |
| Strategy | What it is | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Naming | Making a conscious effort to voice your expectations and intentions. | “I wanted to check in about how the project is progressing. I fully trust you to see this one through. I’d love to hear about where it’s at and if I can support you in any way?” |
| Benefit of the doubt | Acknowledging that you don’t know what you don’t know. Refraining from making assumptions. | “I noticed the project deadline was missed. Can you help me understand what happened?” |
| Active listening | Asking open ended questions. Giving space for employees to answer fully | “What do you need from me to do your best work?” |
| Contextualizing feedback delivery | Share why you are providing constructive feedback. | “I am invested in your success and want you to excel in this role. I noticed you’re struggling to meet assigned deadlines. Can we chat about what support you might need?” |
During Onboarding |
| Strategy | What it is | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing information about onboarding plan | Helping to mitigate unknowns by sharing as many details as possible | “In case it’s helpful to get a sense of what your first day and week will look like I’ve created this onboarding document for you.” |
| Building trust | Naming that you will never judge them. Calling out that you trust them. | “Inevitably things will come up from time to time. I want you to know that I’m always here to support you and I trust you to make good decisions. I hired you because of your good judgment and I’m excited to see it in action.” |
