We Can't Talk about That at Work! Second Edition, 2nd Edition

FIVE

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Let the Conversations Begin: Search for Shared Meaning

When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.

ROY T. BENNETT

Now that you have a better understanding of the prerequisites for having Bold, Inclusive Conversations and you have assessed your readiness, let’s turn our attention to the actual conversation.

Remember, this is a process and not a singular event. (See Figure 1 from the Introduction, repeated here for your convenience.) You may need to hold several conversations that build on one another to reach the desired outcome of shared meaning and ultimately the ability to deeply understand each other’s perspectives, which we explore in Chapter 6. If you and ...