HBR Working Moms Collection (6 Books)

5

Be Someone Others Can Confide In

by Deborah Grayson Riegel

Quick Takes

• Ask how someone’s doing—more than once
• Remember details to demonstrate you’re listening
• Notice—and name—body language
• Model vulnerability
• Create a safe environment for sharing

The question, “Hey, how are you?” often gets asked as a reflex. And, “I’m fine, you?” has become the standard response. We ask, we answer—and then we go about our day. When that happens, we miss the opportunity to create an environment where people can be their whole, authentic selves—including the bad, the mad, and the sad.

Why does it matter if people tell the truth about whether or not they’re really fine? Research shows that when employees feel higher levels of authenticity at work, they report ...