October 2024
TIM'S CORNER
| |
|
McKayla was a leader at a large company who was widely respected for her technical expertise and decision-making skills. A high performer with high potential, she quickly rose to the executive ranks. However, she had a flaw that nearly sank her career. When it came to handling team discussions, she struggled. In meetings, McKayla would often shut down opinions that differed from her own and encouraged and participated in heated arguments among team members. Over time, the team started to hold back, afraid that anything they contributed would spark an emotionally charged debate. The once-engaged team became disengaged, and McKayla lost credibility. Not because she lacked vision or knowledge, but because she failed to create an environment where civil conversations can occur.
This scenario plays out in workplaces more often than we might think. In a recent Harvard Business School study of 500 corporate executives, the words “fight” and “dysfunctional” were the most used terms to describe conflict in their organizations (Collins, Dorison, Gino & Minson, 2023). This is a significant problem that needs attention.
As leaders, our credibility isn’t just built on what we know or what we achieve; it’s also rooted in our ability to facilitate tough conversations with openness, respect, and a readiness to learn from others. Real growth happens when we lean into uncomfortable discussions with courage, humility, and vulnerability.
| |
President & CEO, Turknett Leadership Group | |
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TLG COACH, Patricia Thompson, PhD
What makes some conversations more difficult than others, and why do we so often avoid discussing difficult issues?
I have found that the most challenging conversations are often those where we anticipate potential conflict, especially if we expect an emotional reaction from the other person. We might worry about hurting their feelings, surprising them, or perhaps provoking an angry response. At times, we may even doubt our own ability to manage our own emotions, fearing we could lose our temper or shut down. Because heightened emotions are often uncomfortable, and we typically avoid unpleasant experiences, it can cause us to avoid those situations. This is even more likely if we feel that we lack the communication skills to navigate these situations effectively. Another possible reason for avoiding difficult issues relates to power dynamics. When addressing a sensitive issue with someone in a senior position, there’s a risk of negative consequences, such as career repercussions or damage to the professional relationship. Depending on the culture of the organization, it might be safer to stay quiet than to speak up. This obviously isn’t an exhaustive list, but these are some scenarios that I see pretty commonly.
| |
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: Doug Ross, Synergis CEO & Founder
How has coaching helped you approach challenges differently?
Well, I think certainly with more empathy and maybe what would be called emotional intelligence these days. Maybe certainly being more present, being more understanding, listening a lot more. It's funny because I started my career in sales and I always prided myself in being a good listener. But I think when I was working with employees, I treated people a little differently than I would a customer. And I had my assumptions going into a meeting or a discussion with our employees and when I really should have been listening with a little more care and empathy.
| |
 |
How to Model Civility for a Better Workplace Culture
Jesse Stanchak | Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
As a business leader, you wield considerable influence within your organization. When you model civility, you can set the expectation of open, productive dialogue in the workplace, even during difficult conversations. By setting an example for what civility looks like in action, you can improve the culture of your organization and create lasting business benefits, including greater productivity and staff retention.
At its core, civility is about treating others with respect and kindness, even in challenging situations. Civility goes beyond the simple politeness of refraining from personal attacks or disrespectful behavior. It involves listening actively and acknowledging diverse perspectives so that others feel fully heard. By modeling these behaviors, you can set standards for everyone else to follow, and even increase your standing within the organization as you develop a reputation for consensus building among your fellow leaders.
| | |
|
We are thrilled to announce Helen Ramirez as our next event speaker!
Our featured guest is the first woman and first Hispanic person to be appointed to the City Manager role for Brownsville, TX, and one of only two Hispanic city managers among the top 20 largest cities in the U.S. Brownsville is home to the Space X launch site at Boca Chica and was in the news throughout 2023 as migrant surges were reported in multiple U.S. border communities as Title 22 was ended.
Listen in as Helen shares her unique experiences and insights as the chief executive of a city government, and her inspirational advice to all women regarding the vision they have for themselves.
| | |
|
|
Facilitated by Anne Quiello, M.S., PCC
Senior Consultant & Host of Women in Leadership
| |
|
What our speaker has to say about AI at Amazon:
"Not only is it upskilling of Amazon's employees, but also a dedication to the leadership principle of responsibility. We've made a commitment to ensuring we educate the general population outside of the Amazon walls as it relates to AI and Tech. There's a pledge by Amazon to have 2 million people globally trained in AI, free of charge to them, by the year 2025. We're working to finish that within the timeframe that we've set. It's called the AI Ready Program. It's all designed to help people grow along with the tech and not fear it, and to appreciate the the tech that's here to stay."
- https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/aws-free-ai-skills-training-courses
| |
Heroes, Saints, and Legends Gala
At the 35th annual Heroes, Saints, and Legends Gala on September 19, we were thrilled to witness the community come together and raise a record-breaking $520,000 in support of Wesley Woods senior living communities. The event's focus on helping older adults live independently, with a higher quality of life, reflects the heart of what this gala represents. Bob and Lyn Turknett, who were honored at this incredible event five years ago, remain deeply committed to the values of leadership, service, and philanthropy celebrated by this gathering of Georgia’s finest.
As leadership consultants and pillars in the community, Bob and Lyn have dedicated their lives to making a positive impact, not only through their work but also by supporting initiatives that improve the well-being of their community. This year's event was a powerful reminder of how important it is to continue this mission, ensuring that seniors in our communities can live with dignity and independence. We celebrate this milestone and the ongoing efforts to enrich the lives of those we serve.
| |
Women of Influence Awards 2024
Turknett Leadership Group was honored to attend the 2024 Women of Influence Awards, where we were moved by the inspiring words of the honorees. The evening was filled with profound insights, from Claire "Yum" Arnold, who reminded us that "we can make a difference if we don't fear failure," to DeRetta Rhodes, who shared, "every day I think about the support that I need to provide for others because I think about the support that my grandmother gave to me."
Each woman honored that night had a powerful message, reflecting both personal strength and a deep commitment to their communities. Their stories of leadership and perseverance left us all inspired and motivated to continue fostering growth, support, and positive impact in our own work. It was truly a night to celebrate the incredible achievements and enduring influence of these remarkable women.
| |
Veterans Empowerment Organization Heroes Benefit
We are incredibly grateful to the Veterans Empowerment Organization (VEO) for hosting such an impactful gala and for their unwavering dedication to empowering veterans on their journey to self-sufficiency. Our CEO, Tim, a veteran himself, along with our team, was deeply moved by VEO’s commitment to addressing the critical challenges that veterans face when re-entering civilian life. The work they do—providing emergency and long-term housing, clinical care, and workforce training—fills a vital need in Atlanta, particularly for underserved veteran populations such as women, post-9/11 veterans, and those with families.
We are proud to support such a noble cause and to stand alongside an organization that is truly making a difference in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much for our country. VEO’s comprehensive approach to helping veterans rebuild their lives—from addressing mental health and substance misuse to offering sustainable employment opportunities—creates lasting change. We applaud their dedication and are honored to contribute to their mission of empowering those who served.
| |
Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
The book that revolutionized business communications has been updated for today’s workplace. Crucial Conversations provides powerful skills to ensure every conversation—especially difficult ones—leads to the results you want. Written in an engaging and witty style, the book teaches readers how to be persuasive rather than abrasive, how to get back to productive dialogue when others blow up or clam up, and it offers powerful skills for mastering high-stakes conversations, regardless of the topic or person.
This new edition addresses issues that have arisen in recent years. You’ll learn how to:
- Respond when someone initiates a crucial conversation with you
- Identify & address the lag time between identifying a problem and discussing it
- Communicate more effectively across digital mediums
| |
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
From Wharton professor and author of the popular One Useful Thing Substack newsletter Ethan Mollick comes the definitive playbook for working, learning, and living in the new age of AI.
Something new entered our world in November 2022 — the first general purpose AI that could pass for a human and do the kinds of creative, innovative work that only humans could do previously. Wharton professor Ethan Mollick immediately understood what ChatGPT meant: after millions of years on our own, humans had developed a kind of co-intelligence that could augment, or even replace, human thinking. Through his writing, speaking, and teaching, Mollick has become one of the most prominent and provocative explainers of AI, focusing on the practical aspects of how these new tools for thought can transform our world.
In Co-Intelligence, Mollick urges us to engage with AI as co-worker, co-teacher, and coach. He assesses its profound impact on business and education, using dozens of real-time examples of AI in action. Co-Intelligence shows what it means to think and work together with smart machines, and why it's imperative that we master that skill.
| | |
|  |
|
Corporate Headquarters
100 Crescent Center Pkwy
Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30084
(770) 270-1723
Tim Huff
President & CEO, TLG
thuff@turknett.com
(770) 270-1723
| | | | |
