Thinking Out Loud

Kelly speaks and writes well; his linguistic strengths are evident. He cares about words and their specific meanings and works diligently in conversation to be thoughtful about the language he uses, while respecting others who are not as linguistically oriented. If there is a lack of connection or understanding in a conversation, Kelly works even harder to find a different tack to create an understanding. He’s very careful not to just chalk it up to the other person’s failings. At times he takes this to extremes, especially when the other person isn’t truly engaged. Kelly keeps trying and trying and trying and winds up discouraged, feeling that he has failed. Read More

Julian is a high energy guy who speaks quickly because he has so many thoughts occurring simultaneously. He is also quick to react emotionally in highly charged situations, no matter whether what is happening is good or bad. In his role as an EMT (emergency medical technician), Julian stays very focused—calm yet intense—and draws on deep knowledge and experience in emergencies. He is admired for his knowledge and ability to respond effectively in very complex situations, and his co-workers learn a lot from Julian, although sometimes feel intimidated by his intensity when he speaks to them. Read More

Gerry owns and runs a small manufacturing company. His General Manager, Brian, handles the day to day operations—assigning work, managing projects, and billing customers. Gerry and Brian get along well, and in fact, Gerry hopes to sell the business to Brian in about five years. He sees his own younger self in Brian, with similar values and work ethic. Read More

When contemplating having an important conversation, we tend to think of all the things we would like to say, as well as the negative replies we might hear. Important conversations, however, involve two people trying to come to an understanding in a dynamic environment, with no way of knowing how the conversation will unfold. This give and take experience is a process involving many skills: Read More