Read the situation
“I’ve been busy all morning.”
Your colleague spent the morning dealing with emails, copying people in and forwarding messages. The priority work hasn’t been started yet. What would you say?
Choose your technique
Complimenting
Link a mental quality to a specific future action the other person can take.
Write your response
Example response · Complimenting
“What I appreciate about you is your focus. You can use it now to decide what really matters and let the rest go.”
See what happens next
Possible reply from your colleague · fixed example
“Thank you. I recognise the quality you’ve named. I’ll look at how I can use it more deliberately.”
This reply is independent of anything you type.
Read the situation
“I’ve been busy all morning.”
Your colleague spent the morning dealing with emails, copying people in and forwarding messages. The priority work hasn’t been started yet. What would you say?
Choose your technique
Confronting
Describe only behaviour you can observe, without interpreting, judging, advising or asking a question.
Write your response
Example response · Confronting
“I see you’ve had a full morning and the priority work hasn’t been started yet.”
See what happens next
Possible reply from your colleague · fixed example
“That’s right.”
This reply is independent of anything you type.