Strategic Doing

Chapter 2CREATE AND MAINTAIN A SAFE SPACE FOR DEEP, FOCUSED CONVERSATION (SKILL 1)

Think about the best conversations you've ever had. These were, perhaps, conversations that led to your best friend becoming your best friend. Or maybe they were long talks you had during the earliest days of getting to know the person who is now the love of your life. Maybe some conversations on your short list of best conversations ever were with a business partner or a mentor. Even a chat with a wide‐eyed four‐year‐old can be a great conversation. Agile leadership means knowing how to guide conversations. This ability begins with understanding how to create and maintain a safe space where great conversations can occur. Before delving into what it means to create and maintain safe spaces let's first be sure to understand the nature of deep, focused conversations. That will help us determine the right sort of spaces in which to have them.

DEEP CONVERSATIONS

How many conversations do you think you had this week, over the last seven days? These could be conversations with your spouse or partner, your kids, or other family members. This would also include work‐related conversations – conversations with your boss, with those you supervise, your peers, partners, customers, or anyone else you encounter because of work. Don't forget all the other conversations you have, like those with the person ringing up your groceries or the neighbor you encounter while taking your dog for a walk.

What is a “deep ...