Better Conversations at Work and Home: Jackie Stavros & Cheri Torres

Show Notes

Better Conversations from Better Questions
Be Curious to Create Positive Conversations

Episode 303 (Jackie is based in Michigan. Cheri is based in North Carolina)

In this conversation with Jackie Stavors & Cheri Torres we explore:

• the conversations we have with ourselves before we speak to others


• the difference between appreciative and depreciative thinking


• how pausing and breathing can interrupt defensive reactions


• why curiosity changes the direction of difficult conversations


• how generative questions broaden thinking


• making invisible assumptions visible


• creating shared understanding through inquiry


• inspiring possibilities with thoughtful questions


• helping leaders engage people instead of commanding them


• shifting meetings from blame to exploration


• building commitment by involving people in creation


• using positive framing to guide stronger outcomes


• practical questions that diffuse tension and invite insight

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About our guests:

They are coauthers of the book, "Conversations Work Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement".

Learn more about Conversations Work Having and the free resources here.

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Key Lessons from this conversation with Jackie Stavros & Cheri Torres:

• conversations shape outcomes, whether those conversations are with others or with ourselves


• before speaking, ask: what is my intended message?


• recognize whether you are above the line (appreciative) or below the line (depreciative)


• pausing and breathing interrupts defensive reactions and creates room for better thinking


• curiosity is stronger than criticism when facing conflict or disagreement


• self-talk improves when statements are replaced with thoughtful questions


• generative questions can change how people think and respond


• strong questions make the invisible visible


• shared understanding grows when people clarify intentions and desired outcomes


• leaders build stronger commitment when they ask more questions and give fewer commands


• people commit more deeply to what they help create


• positive framing focuses attention on what we want to build, not only what we want to fix


• any person in a meeting, regardless of role, can redirect conversation with a thoughtful question


• asking “what do you know that I don’t know?” opens learning and reduces defensiveness


• conversations worth having are built through awareness, inquiry, and intention

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Your Intended Message is the podcast about how you can boost your career and business success by honing your communication skills. We’ll examine the aspects of how we communicate one-to-one, one to few and one to many – plus that important conversation, one to self.

In these interviews we will explore presentation skills, public speaking, conversation, persuasion, negotiation, sales conversations, marketing, team meetings, social media, branding, self talk and more.

 

Your host is George Torok

George is a specialist in communication skills. Especially presentation. He’s fascinated by the links between communication and influencing behaviors. He delivers training and coaching programs to help leaders and promising professionals deliver the intended message for greater success.

 

Connect with George

www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com

https://superiorpresentations.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgetorokpresentations/

https://www.youtube.com/user/presentationskill