Conversation Engineering
For leaders who want to take control of their leadership growth, our Conversation Engineering tools provide instant, actionable resources to handle tough conversations, improve team dynamics, and make leadership easier.
People can be unpredictable, conversations can get awkward, and it’s hard to know if you’re saying or doing the right thing.
What we say at work matters…
How to Make Your Meetings a 10/10
Even If everyone’s tired and overloaded, this simple question can still make your meetings truly valuable for everyone.
How can we support more leaders?
We’re building a community of practice for leaders. But before we build it, we want your voice in the room.
Your first step to better conversations
Our Conversation Engineering Canvas is a great way to start improving the conversations you have at work. Use the 5 components in the canvas to plan your conversation.
How you show up defines everything
Your team doesn’t need you to be inspiring every day. They need you to be reliable. The best leaders aren’t the most charismatic. They’re the most consistent.
How to be understood 1st time
Getting people to understand what you need them to do is so important when it comes to being a leader, it’s a big part of building a reputation for getting things done. Our guide is all about helping you do just this.
Why your team doesn’t get it
You’ve explained the vision, outlined the priorities, and set clear expectations. Yet, things still don’t happen the way you intended. Learn how to create understanding differently.
How to hear from everyone
Get more ideas flowing, hear from more voices and equalise airtime in your meetings. Discover why some people talk too much & learn what to do to give everyone the opportunity to be heard.
Resolve difficult one to ones
Had enough of difficult 1-1s? Discover how to turn conversations with your most difficult direct reports into productive, growth-focused conversations.
Fear and trust: don’t ignore how people feel at work
When you’re leading a strategic programme of change it’s a lot of work. You’ll need the energy, expertise and commitment of your team. In this blog I explain the neuroscience behind people’s behaviour at work, and three tips to [...]
Get to know your brain
Learning about how our brain works is so useful. A little neuroscience helps us decode human behaviour and gives you and your team a new shared language, making it easier to talk about how we feel.
Why your PFC if your best friend when you’re leading a team
Running a tech company means you’re probably thinking about OKRs, MVPs and your P&L. But are you thinking about your PFC? Chances are the answer is no. But perhaps you should… Do you employ technical experts and other knowledge workers? [...]
5 phrases to unlock ideas
It’s amazing the impact you can have on the quality of people’s thinking. Simply by using these 5 little phrases you can improve how your team generates ideas and solve problems in your meetings
Bean bags can only do so much
Change is everywhere. It feels like the pace is accelerating. No matter where I look it’s hard not to see it. I wonder what life in 5 years will be like, let alone in 50 years. The world of [...]
Disagreeing well
We like consensus in our teams. When people agree it feels good, all being on the same page is a comfy place to be - but is it too comfy? Learn a key skill of a high performing team; disagreeing well.
Recognise stress in your meetings
If we can learn the signs of stress we will become more aware of its impact on our conversations, we are able to respond better. Learn to recognise the signs of stress in yourself and others, as this will make people’s behaviour easier to understand.
Great conversations in 15 minutes
Are you putting off important work conversations? If you’re tired of stumbling through awkward conversations let us guide you.
How to disagree without being disagreeable.
Ever felt like you’re heading to the dark side when you’re in a disagreement? “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda, Jedi Master. Fear is [...]
Process your emotions before talking to people
Have you ever needed to talk to someone at work about their behaviour? Perhaps they have upset you or made you feel angry and you now need to give them feedback. Whilst it’s tempting to react in the moment, [...]
The Virtual Imposter – is hybrid work aggravating negative self-talk?
Imposter feelings bubble up when we feel we are not good enough. You can read more about it here. Previously, I have talked a lot about my personal experiences. Now I wanted to share some of the experiences people [...]
Defining the people skills gap in the tech industry
After 20 years working in the industry, starting in the early days of the dotcom boom, followed by 6 years and literally 1000's of hours of coaching tech folk, we've identified a set of people skills which are often lacking [...]
Middle management is where good ideas go to die
The heart of our business is under-supported; yet a change here makes a huge difference. Let’s shift our focus to the people who have the strongest influence on performance. When we think of change we start with the top: [...]
Interview with HR guru Dave Milner pt2
Leaders in Conversation is an online discussion series co-hosted by Amanda Cookson and Ken Blackwell, which explores more human ways to work with leaders who are challenging conventional wisdom. We spoke to Futurologist and Influencer Dave Milner about the [...]
The Now & Future of Leadership with Dave Milner
Leaders in Conversation is an online discussion series co-hosted by Amanda Cookson and Ken Blackwell, which explores more human ways to work with leaders who are challenging conventional wisdom. We spoke to Futurologist and Influencer Dave Milner about the [...]
