Safety

This is a preview of a concept contained in The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman, a book that will help you master the fundamentals of business, hone your business instincts, and save a fortune in tuition. The Personal MBA distills the most powerful principles of business and delivers them quickly and concisely. Order your copy now…

What is “Safety”?

“You can’t operate a company by fear, because the way to eliminate fear is to avoid criticism, and the best way to avoid criticism is to do nothing.” — Steve Ross, former CEO of Time Warner

Key Points:

• Effective communication only occurs when both parties feel safe. As soon as one party feels unimportant, they will withdraw mentally and emotionally from the conversation.
• People need to feel safe to express what they think and what’s important to them.
• The STATE model to communicate without anger or defensiveness:
  
  
  
  • Share your facts. Facts are less controversial, so lead with them.
  • Tell your story. Explain your point of view, without judging or insulting.
  • Ask for others’ paths. Listen to their side of the story.
  • Talk tentatively. Avoid judgments and ultimatums.
  • Encourage testing. Make suggestions and ask for input until you agree on a course of action.
• People have different attitudes. By knowing how to adapt your words and actions to the other party’s personality, you’ll get closer to an effective communication.

Questions for Consideration:

• How easily can you identify a person who is stonewalling?
• What can you do to make them feel safe enough to communicate openly?

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