Small change: take the long road

In many working relationships — particularly long-term ones — it is easy for important conversations to end up being cut short or stop happening altogether.

The reason for this is simple: we learn from experience. Over time, we become conditioned to one another’s thinking and behaviour. Our interactions with individuals prime us to believe that we know what their response will be, without the perceived time and trouble of a conversation.

This is almost always a mistake. In closing down conversation, we close down the opportunity to challenge how we and others see the world, and so arrive at different outcomes. However tempting shortcuts might be, the long road of deep conversation is always the more productive route to effective change.

Something to consider: where am I assuming that I know the answer?

Explore more