Sean Glaze

QUADRANT 1 – PLAIN

Less Considerate and Less Compelling:

Interactions in this quadrant are ineffective and can lead to misunderstanding, resistance, or disengagement among team members. Strive to minimize your presence in this quadrant by always aiming to be both considerate and compelling in your communication.

THIS IS THE INNOCUOUS COMMENT YO SHARE WITHOUT PREPARATION OR ANY REAL INTENTION OF IMPACTING THEIR BEHAVIOR.

THE BENIGN “HI, HOW ARE YOU?”

THE BLAND “HAVE A GOOD DAY”

QUADRANT 2 – PLEASANT

Considerate but Less Compelling:

Interactions falling into this quadrant are characterized by kindness and thoughtfulness, but they may lack the ability to inspire immediate action. While being considerate is commendable, it is essential to find ways to make your message more compelling to encourage your team members to take the desired course of action.

THIS IS THE AREA OF COMPLIMENTS AND COMPASSION, AND IT CAN OFTEN BUILD A SENSE OF CARING AND THOUGHFULNESS WITH TEAM MEMBERS.

THE COMFORTING “HOW IS YOUR DAD DOING? I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU BOTH”

THE CHARISMATIC “YOU ARE SO TALENTED…I’M GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON OUR TEAM”

QUADRANT 3 – POINTED

Compelling but Less Considerate:

In this quadrant, your communication might be persuasive and impactful in terms of motivating action, but it may lack consideration for the individuals involved. Remember that consideration builds rapport and fosters a sense of trust. Find ways to infuse empathy and understanding into your compelling messages to maintain positive relationships with your team.

THIS IS WHERE YOU SAY IN A STRAIGHTFORWARD OR EVEN CRITICAL WAY WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE OR IMPROVE… AND YOU ALLOW URGENCY TO SUPERCEDE EMPATHY. (DISCOURTEOUS DEMANDS OFTEN LEAD TO DEFIANCE)

THE DIRECT “YOU NEED TO GET THAT REPORT FINISHED BY 3:00.”

THE DISAPPROVING “THAT ISN’T EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT I ASKED FOR”

QUADRANT 4 – PRODUCTIVE

Considerate and Compelling:

In this quadrant, your communication is both kind and thoughtful, while also conveying the importance of the message. Interactions in this quadrant have the potential to generate a positive impact on team members, fostering appreciation and motivation simultaneously. Strive to spend the majority of your communication in this quadrant to create an environment of trust and inspiration.

THIS IS THE AREA YOU WANT TO STRIVE FOR, WHERE COMMENTS AND INTERACTIONS ARE APPRECIATED AND ACTED ON BECAUSE YOU COMMUNICATE BOTH CARE AND IMPORTANCE.

THE UNDERSTANDING.”I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL… I FELT THE SAME WAY… AND I LEARNED THAT ____”

THE USEFUL  “I NOTICED SOMETHING YESTERDAY THAT I THINK COULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR YOU… SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT IT?”

IT IS YOUR JOB TO SPEND THE MOST TIME IN QUADRANT FOUR…

THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL CREATE THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT.

As a manager or team leader, becoming a better communicator is crucial for maximizing the potential of your team. By recognizing that leadership occurs one interaction at a time, you can intentionally choose the kind of interactions you have with each team member.

Balancing consideration and compelling influence allows you to create a positive impact on their beliefs and behaviors. By being considerate, you foster appreciation and openness, while being compelling ensures that your team members understand the importance of taking action.

Continuously strive to improve your communication skills, and by doing so, you will enhance your leadership capabilities and foster a high-performing team

Communicating is about being direct with expectations while being kind in your delivery.

The goal is NOT a saccharin sweetness without direction.

The goal is NOT coarse commands without gentleness.

Your goal IS to make it clear that you care about your people… and their performance.

Hiring an executive team leadership coach can help leaders to improve their awareness of how their interactions are affecting team performance.

And often a corporate team building event can help your team members appreciate the impact of their conversations with coworkers.

The key to improved team results and retention is improving your team interactions.

So – what quadrant will define YOUR comments and interactions this week?

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Sean Glaze is an engaging business leadership speaker and interactive team building events facilitator who helps organizations develop more effective leaders and build more positive and profitable workplace cultures.

Sean is the author of four books, The Unexpected Leader, Rapid Teamwork, The 10 Commandments of Winning Teammates, and Staying Coachable – each one an entertaining parable with powerful take-aways for team growth and leadership!

What issues are YOU dealing with that would disappear if you could build a team culture that inspired connection, accountability, and a team-first attitude ?