We have power in our communication. There may be awkward or uncomfortable conversations that need to be had or ones that need thinking outside the box on resolutions that just take some brainstorming.

SCENARIO #1
Your coworker loves fruit. Any kind of fruit. Everyday they come into work (often with fruit earrings or attire), they always have fruit prepared for lunch. Your coworker even brings in fruit that aren’t as common or more exotic for others in the office to try. They want to share the love of fruit! All the fruit though is causing a problem with gnats appearing more.

Response: An easy response could be that the shared fruit needs to be cut back and this could help resolve the gnats. But the sharing of exotic fruits have become a great team bonding. Brainstorm on your own or with a group possible resolutions and approach to this situation.


SCENARIO #2
Your leader likes to multitask. This can be during one on one or group meetings or during in person conversations and when speaking to customers. They have good intentions but it has been increasingly resulting in wrong communication and decisions happening. You also feel a little frustrated that they’re not giving you and others their full attention.

Response: You feel awkward bringing this up to your leader but enough issues are occurring that you’re feeling pressure from your peers and support staff that a conversation should be had. What’s an approach you could do that doesn’t put you in a bad place? Note: Provide responses that are for varying relationship levels with the leader.


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Dive further into the exercise with these discussion questions.

• Have there been scenarios in the past that you think could have been resolved better with more brainstorming?
• What barriers do you think can occur with trying to think of creative solutions?
• How does varying relationship levels affect your approach or power with the approach that you have to situations?
• If you have a toxic leader who is very defensive, what is an approach that you can do that allows some sort of response from you while also protecting yourself?

For more information about this material, email kmcclain@praeliscere.com or visit https://praeliscere.com/. Copyright Kathryn McClain.

We have power in our communication. There may be awkward or uncomfortable conversations that need to be had or ones that need thinking outside the box on resolutions that just take some brainstorming. The Power of Approach exercise helps walk through different scenarios focusing on our approach to them.