A few weeks ago, E.O. Habhegger hosted the second session in a powerful three-part seminar series with Steve McClatchy, a renowned leadership and relationship expert. Following the success of the first session on leadership, this seminar shifted focus to a crucial topic for both personal and professional growth: relationships.
This interactive and thought-provoking seminar offered valuable strategies to foster meaningful connections, reduce conflict, and enhance engagement in relationships, both in and out of the workplace.
Here’s a recap of the key takeaways from the session.
Breaking the Cycle of Conflict
One of the seminar’s central discussions revolved around the cycle of conflict that can occur in relationships. This destructive loop, often fueled by poor communication, frustration, and unresolved issues, can lead to:
A breakdown in trust
Low team morale
Workplace turnover
Steve McClatchy guided participants through strategies to disrupt this cycle and build a foundation of trust and collaboration. Attendees worked through real-world scenarios to recognize patterns in their own relationships and how to shift toward healthier dynamics.
Understanding and Addressing Cognitive Dissonance
Steve introduced the concept of cognitive dissonance, describing it as the stress and discomfort felt when a person’s actions are misaligned with their beliefs or agreements. This misalignment can create tension in relationships and hinder productivity in teams.
Steve’s Solution to Cognitive Dissonance
Steve emphasized the importance of aligning intentions with actions and offered a step-by-step solution:
Acknowledge the dissonance: Recognize when your actions or behavior are out of sync with your commitments or beliefs.
Revisit agreements: Reflect on the original intention behind your actions or commitments. Was there a misunderstanding or change in priorities?
Communicate openly: Engage in honest dialogue with others involved, sharing your observations and seeking their perspective.
Reset expectations: If needed, agree on updated actions or commitments that realign with the original intent or shared goals.
Take decisive action: Resolve the dissonance by following through on the agreed adjustments. Action builds trust and eases tension.
Steve highlighted how addressing cognitive dissonance proactively strengthens relationships, whether in the workplace or in personal life.
Leadership Lessons Through Rock, Paper, Scissors 🪨📄✂️
One of the seminar’s most memorable moments involved a playful but powerful exercise: employees playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. While it may seem like a simple game, Steve used it as a metaphor for decision-making in leadership and relationships. Each choice—rock, paper, or scissors—represents a distinct approach to decision-making:
Rock: A strong, direct approach, symbolizing resolve and toughness.
Paper: A softer, more flexible approach, symbolizing collaboration and adaptability.
Scissors: A strategic approach, symbolizing precision and creativity.
The game reminded participants that leadership and relationships often require choosing the right approach for the situation. Just as no one choice wins every time in Rock, Paper, Scissors, success in relationships requires adaptability, strategy, and awareness of others’ perspectives.
This lighthearted activity reinforced key leadership lessons while energizing participants and sparking meaningful discussions about decision-making.
Agreeing on New Behaviors
In moments of misalignment or conflict, finding a shared path forward is essential. Steve encouraged participants to adopt a growth-oriented mindset by asking:
“What might be a better mindset, response, reaction, choice, or decision moving forward?”
This powerful reframing helps focus on solutions rather than problems, fostering collaboration and progress.
Feedback: The Bridge to Better Relationships
Effective feedback is a cornerstone of healthy relationships, yet it’s often mishandled. Steve provided a structured feedback script to help participants give and receive feedback constructively:
Ask permission to provide feedback.
Share your intent and explain why the feedback is being shared.
Avoid absolutes and use phrases like, “There are times when…” to prevent defensiveness.
Deliver feedback swiftly and respectfully.
Ask for their perspective and engage in a two-way dialogue.
Agree on new behaviors or actions to improve future outcomes.
Reaffirm your positive intent to ensure the feedback is understood as constructive.
By practicing this script, employees learned how to communicate effectively, even during difficult conversations.
The Value of Collaboration and Strengthening Relationships
Employees from E.O. Habhegger participated in group activities and role-playing exercises during the seminar, creating opportunities for hands-on learning. These exercises allowed teams to practice resolving conflicts, delivering feedback, and improving their communication skills in real-time.
The interactive nature of the seminar helped employees apply the concepts to their unique challenges, ensuring the lessons extended beyond the classroom.
A Book Worth Reading: Leading Relationships
Steve McClatchy’s latest book, Leading Relationships, served as a reference point for many of the concepts discussed during the seminar. Packed with strategies to eliminate conflict, build trust, and improve engagement, it’s a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their relationships.
Looking Ahead
This seminar marks another step in E.O. Habhegger’s commitment to employee development. By investing in leadership and relationship-building training, the company is empowering its workforce to thrive in both personal and professional spheres.
The final seminar in this series promises to build on the insights gained so far. We can’t wait to see how our employees continue to grow and apply these lessons to strengthen their teams and relationships.
Final Thoughts
E.O. Habhegger’s collaboration with Steve McClatchy provided employees with the tools to foster healthier relationships and eliminate the stress of misalignment and conflict. By breaking destructive cycles, addressing cognitive dissonance, and improving feedback, our team is better equipped to succeed together.
Want to learn more? Stay tuned for highlights from the next session and discover how these lessons can transform your relationships!
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