This is a modified version of my presentation from my class, Culture Design Workshop: Fostering Effective Communication, hosted at PARISOMA on Feb 11, 2014.

1. CULTURE DESIGN WORKSHOP
FOSTERING EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
Larissa Conte
PARISOMA 02.11.14

2. FRAMING CULTURE

3. DEFINITION
CULTURE
The set of shared beliefs, values, & behaviors
amongst a group.

4. CULTURE SHAPES AND IS SHAPED BY
Beliefs
o
Values
Worldviews, o Explicit values
Mindsets
o Implicit values
(=What’s good,
valuable, true,
etc.)
Behaviors
o
o
o
o
o
o
Language
Systems
Processes
Leadership
Artifacts
Feedback
o
o
o
o
o
o
Communication
Decision-making
Place-making
Rituals
Attire
Taboos

5. DR. CAROL DWECK
THE POWER OF MINDSET
Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset
Intelligence
is static
Intelligence
can be
developed
Leads to
desire to
look smart
Leads to
desire to
learn

6. DR. CAROL DWECK
MINDSET AND COMPANY CULTURE
“We know from our studies that people with the
fixed mindset do not admit and correct their
deficiencies. And a company that cannot selfcorrect cannot survive . . . Instead of learning,
growing, and moving the company forward,
everyone starts worrying about being judged . . .
It’s hard for courage and innovation to survive a
company-wide fixed mindset.”

7. FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION
Getting work done
o
o
o
o
o
Making clear requests & o
agreements
o
Making decisions
o
Making mistakes
Giving/receiving feedback
Learning
Building relationship
Connecting as people
Dealing with conflict
What you reward/punish
& how

8. (IN)EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION HABITS

9. COMMUNICATION IS A FUEL
o
The lifeblood of relationships
o
The clarity enabling alignment
o
The information exchange powering execution

10. BELIEFS THAT BLOCK COMMUNICATION
Communication issues will sort themselves out.
Communicating isn’t a priority—there are more
important things to do for the business.
Conflict is to be avoided at all costs.
Sharing about vulnerability = weakness.

11. POOR COMMUNICATION BEHAVIORS
o
Avoiding reality/evasion
o
Talking behind backs
o
Being unaware of reality
o
Being indirect
o
Conflict as blood sport
o
Assuming people know
o
Wanting to be “nice”
o
Holding back the truth
o
Making unclear requests
o
Blaming others
o
Withholding empathy
what you’re talking about

12. FRAMEWORK
RECIPE FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Assess Benefits
& Costs of
Behavior
Identify the
Antidote
Plan for
Change

13. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

14. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

15. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

16. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

17. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

18. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

19. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

20. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

21. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

22. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

23. BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION
Commit to your truth. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen
deeply. Acknowledge what’s so. Take corrective action. Be
direct, clear & specific. Be human—empathetic, respectful,
honest. Consider the other person’s point of view. Make
time to communicate. Don’t act like a jerk & when you do,
own it. Rewire false beliefs & adopt new behaviors.

24. THE VALUE OF TENSION
AND CONFLICT

25. FROM AVOIDANCE TO ENGAGEMENT
Rather than relating to tension or conflict as “bad,” what if
instead they were indicators that something’s out of
alignment and that there’s an opportunity to evolve?

26. FROM AVOIDANCE TO ENGAGEMENT
And how often might our high emotions be a result of
coming from a Fixed mindset?

27. ENGAGING CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS
Important Steps:
1
Share your observations of the other person’s behavior
*Avoid interpretation
2
Describe the impact of their behavior on you and
the company
3
Make a clear request for how they can improve their
behavior in the future

28. THANK YOU
Larissa Conte
beinglionhearted.com
larissa@beinglionhearted.com
@larissabconte