# The Power and Impact Of Effective Conversations in the Workplace Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-10-26 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Transform Organizational Culture Through Quality Conversations Meta Description: Discover how Sara Sheehan's expertise can drive dramatic improvement in employee engagement and productivity through appreciative inquiry and positive URL: https://financedigest.com/the-power-and-impact-of-effective-conversations-in-the-workplacehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1018188310-1736814969390-compressed.jpg) _![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/377-1736814969368-compressed.jpg)_ _By **Sara Sheehan,** Executive coach and change consultant at_ [_Sara Sheehan Consulting_](https://sarawsheehan.com/) The context of our conversations provides a powerful indicator of where our hearts and minds are in our lives. How we interact with our colleagues will either help enforce a healthy team dynamic or create division. When seeking to drive change in organizational culture, consider applying appreciative inquiry, positive psychology, and really caring for the others in the conversation to yield dramatic improvement in employee engagement, performance, and productivity. **What Do I** [Need to Change in My Conversations?](https://www.financedigest.com/living-with-dementia-what-conversations-do-you-need-to-have.html "Living with dementia: what conversations do you need to have?") _Conversations Worth Having_ by Stavros and Torres (second edition) provides an outstanding framework for changing how we approach others, creating better relationships and improving organizational culture. When going into important conversations, adopt an attitude of curiosity by asking open ended appreciative inquiry questions. Come from a place of possibilities rather than problems. When you do this, you are taking a positive approach in all that you say, ask or frame through the conversation. Seek to understand or innovate creative [ways to improve any aspect of the business](https://www.financedigest.com/5-simple-ways-in-which-your-business-can-save-water.html "5 simple ways in which your business can save water"), whether it’s process, design, technology, or people related. Anytime you use appreciative inquiry in a conversation you’ll enhance the relationship, productivity, and performance of the other participants in the conversation. This provides a powerful return on investment of our [time and new approach](https://www.financedigest.com/anti-money-laundering-time-to-take-a-new-approach.html "ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING: TIME TO TAKE A NEW APPROACH?"). **Real World Application of Conversations Worth Having** Here’s a scenario that may help [bring conversations worth having to life](https://www.financedigest.com/trump-charges-bring-new-york-zombie-case-back-to-life.html "Trump charges bring New York ‘zombie case’ back to life"). Imagine your company has been acquired. Many long tenured [employees are transitioning to the acquiring company](https://www.financedigest.com/why-more-companies-are-asking-new-employees-to-commence-employment-before-christmas.html "Why more companies are asking new employees to commence employment BEFORE Christmas."). As with many acquisitions, your company offers a [competitive advantage](https://www.financedigest.com/turning-big-data-compliance-into-a-competitive-advantage.html "TURNING ‘BIG DATA’ COMPLIANCE INTO A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE") in their products or services, but the company needs to improve processes and reduce costs. In working with acquired, long tenured employees, use the principles of appreciative inquiry when engaging them on what made the company great, set them apart from competitors, and created a positive [customer experience](https://www.financedigest.com/the-new-client-adviser-experience-in-the-age-of-the-customer.html "The New Client-Adviser Experience in the Age of the Customer"). Conversations worth having seeks to understand what made the organization great, characteristics of great [customer experiences](https://www.financedigest.com/video-collaboration-is-pushing-the-boundaries-of-the-customer-experience-in-financial-services.html "Video Collaboration is pushing the boundaries of the customer experience in Financial Services"), and how the organization created community internally and externally. Asking questions with a positive slant that truly appreciates the other person and what they bring to the table will provide answers that generate ideas, building on what is already great in the acquired organization. This conversation is also going to be more productive and [build trust](https://www.financedigest.com/how-sonic-branding-can-build-trust-and-confidence.html "How sonic branding can build trust and confidence"). **Quality Conversations** The quality of our [conversations determines how others perceive us and want to engage](https://www.financedigest.com/how-conversational-commerce-can-help-banks-engage-with-millennials.html "How conversational commerce can help banks engage with Millennials") with us. Conversational Intelligence® is based on the book by the late Judith E. Glaser and I was lucky enough to get the Certification for Coaches in Conversational Intelligence **®** taught directly by Judith. It was a truly enlightening experience to learn from her lifelong career of research, consulting, and coaching. Judith had great success in driving cultural [change in organizations by shining a light on how they worked together and the tone](https://www.financedigest.com/seeking-right-tone-new-uk-pm-truss-had-to-quickly-change-gear-for-queen.html "Seeking right tone, new UK PM Truss had to quickly change gear for queen"), emotion, and construct of their conversations. In her research and practical application, she was able to distill frameworks that help us understand what we need to do to have the best conversation possible in any situation. **What is Conversational Intelligence®?** Conversational Intelligence **®** is the hardwired and learnable ability to connect, navigate and grow with others. We need this type of intelligence to build healthier and more resilient organizations and [communities in the face of change](https://www.financedigest.com/talk-to-me-the-changing-face-of-customer-communications.html "TALK TO ME :THE CHANGING FACE OF CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS") or disruption. With Conversational Intelligence **®**, we are able to understand how conversations shape our relationships, partnerships, our culture and our reality. It introduces a roadmap for creating higher levels of trust, activating higher levels of employee engagement, strengthening partnerships, and catalyzing co-creation and innovation in relationships, teams, organizations, and cultures. As we connect with others in a positive way, it strengthens our ability to express our inner thoughts and feelings, as well as opens the door to co-creation. Simply put, Conversational Intelligence **®** creates the foundation for trust, high-quality relationships, and [business success](https://www.financedigest.com/acca-sets-out-magnificent-seven-attributes-vital-to-success-in-modern-business.html "ACCA Sets Out ‘Magnificent Seven’ Attributes Vital to Success in Modern Business"). **Reach Your Highest Potential with Powerful Conversations** Reaching your highest potential at work requires you to be keenly aware of how you engage with others, how you [build teams](https://www.financedigest.com/build-a-strong-remote-team-with-these-5-steps.html "Build A Strong Remote Team With These 5 Steps") and create coalitions, and how you utilize your ability to lead and influence others. Even experienced executives need to strategically think through their approach for difficult conversations in advance. For tactics on integrating better, more effective conversations in the workplace, please [see my top](https://www.financedigest.com/top-10-retro-phone-features-we-would-like-to-see-in-modern-smartphones.html "Top 10 retro phone features we would like to see in modern smartphones") 5 strategies below: 1. Ask positive questions that help you connect with the other [person and build](https://www.financedigest.com/best-guide-to-build-a-personal-financial-plan.html "Best Guide to Build a Personal Financial Plan") trust. Frame questions in a way that you are supporting the other person’s experience or expertise. 2. When you are in a conversation, if you see an opportunity to go deeper, double click on the topic by asking a few more specific questions. See if you can uncover an opportunity to co-create a solution with the other person. 3. If you are going into a difficult conversation, make sure you think about the topics you want to cover, [set expectations](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-set-for-weekly-loss-amid-expectations-fed-will-slow-hikes.html "Dollar set for weekly loss amid expectations Fed will slow hikes") for the roadmap of the conversation, and ask the other person to take a role in the conversation so that it’s two way. Use words that will frame where you are in the roadmap. Use positive language as much as possible to [keep the other person engaged and listening](https://www.financedigest.com/in-listening-mode-new-bayer-ceo-keeps-open-mind-on-company-split.html "In listening mode, new Bayer CEO keeps ‘open mind’ on company split"). 4. When you are in an emotionally charged conversation there’s nothing wrong with asking to pause the conversation and set new terms or boundaries for the next meeting. You might need to ask a question like, “Since this is getting a little tense, I’d like to ask that we pause and regroup in a week. I’d like to hear your thoughts and ideas.” Getting the person to focus on ideas or solutions instead of problems can really help. 5. Using formal rules of engagement for team meetings and one on ones can help [keep conversations on track](https://www.financedigest.com/will-mays-new-minister-percy-keep-the-northern-powerhouse-on-track-post-brexit.html "WILL MAY’S NEW MINISTER PERCY KEEP THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE ON TRACK POST BREXIT?") and productive. The [rules of engagement](https://www.financedigest.com/customer-engagement-trends-that-will-rule-banking-and-financial-services-in-2021.html "Customer Engagement Trends that Will Rule Banking and Financial Services in 2021") need to be understood by all team members. They can be as simple as don’t interrupt when someone is speaking, use appreciative inquiry when seeking more information, or frame up the standing agenda for a meeting. A few additional competencies to [develop powerful](https://www.financedigest.com/edf-edison-ansaldo-team-up-to-develop-nuclear-power-in-europe.html "EDF, Edison, Ansaldo team up to develop nuclear power in Europe") conversations include emotional intelligence and empathy. Understanding and interpreting your own and other’s emotions, and then responding with poise, kindness, and understanding will help you to build solid connections. Awareness on these topics can help you take action to create a new reality [around who you are and how you make a difference in your organization](https://www.financedigest.com/the-medical-ultrasound-equipment-market-to-stick-around-based-on-organic-expansion.html "The Medical Ultrasound Equipment Market to stick around based on organic expansion"). As Judith E. Glaser said in her book _Conversational Intelligence_ **®**, “Words create worlds.” When it comes to conversations, think strategically about how you can move any discussion forward in a positive way. **About the Author** Sara Sheehan, PCC, is a consultant and Executive Coach who works with C-Level executive leaders in designing organizations, developing business strategies, managing change, optimizing talent and leadership development, and [solving complex human performance problems](https://www.financedigest.com/british-start-up-reveals-the-secret-to-solving-the-problem-of-identity-fraud.html "British start up reveals the secret to solving the problem of identity fraud"). Through executive coaching, Sara helps [leaders sprint their way](https://www.financedigest.com/3-impactful-ways-that-leaders-can-contribute-to-the-independent-development-of-their-employees.html "3 Impactful Ways that Leaders Can Contribute to the Independent Development of Their Employees") up the corporate ladder and increase their performance. During Sara’s 25+ [years in business](https://www.financedigest.com/2018-is-a-year-of-regulation-is-your-business-ready.html "2018 is a year of regulation – is your business ready?"), she has worked with leaders, teams, and organizations in Fortune 100 companies and individuals. Sara specializes in [change management](https://www.financedigest.com/dispute-management-mindset-changing-the-disputes-game.html "Dispute Management Mindset: Changing the disputes game"), talent and leadership development, executive coaching, and organization design. As a collaborative, results-orientated coach, Sara [provides support](https://www.financedigest.com/keysource-to-provide-critical-facilitiesmanagement-support-for-leeds-city-council.html "KEYSOURCE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL FACILITIESMANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR LEEDS CITY COUNCIL") and practical feedback to help clients effectively navigate change and address business challenges. She also integrates coaching techniques, methods, and approaches to help her clients develop change capabilities and learn to apply them right away. With a servant leadership mindset, she [supports her clients](https://www.financedigest.com/bny-mellon-strengthens-support-for-treasury-services-clients-in-germany-with-appointment-of-gungor-taner.html "BNY MELLON STRENGTHENS SUPPORT FOR TREASURY SERVICES CLIENTS IN GERMANY WITH APPOINTMENT OF GÜNGÖR TANER") in building new skills and customizes frameworks to her client’s project needs. Sara works with clients based on her network, referrals, and appointment. Sara has been featured both [nationally and internationally on podcasts as an expert on topics of change management](https://www.financedigest.com/national-world-launches-new-ad-manager-platform-powered-by-danads-empowering-businesses-to-take-control-of-their-advertising.html "National World launches new ad manager platform, powered by DanAds, empowering businesses to take control of their advertising"), talent and leadership development, executive coaching, and organization design. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---