This is a modified version of the deck from my culture design workshop at PARISOMA on June 3, 2014.

1. FOSTERING EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
CULTURE DESIGN WORKSHOP
Larissa Conte
PARISOMA 06.03.14

2. What makes communication
effective or ineffective in a
business context?

3. FRAMING CULTURE

4. The evolving pattern of beliefs, values, & behaviors
shared amongst a group.
CULTURE
DEFINITION

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

6. 81%
CULTURE IMPACTS BUSINESS SUCCESS
50-200%
Hiring failures due to poor culture fit
The cost of replacing a hire as a percent of
their annual salary
40%+ New hires likely to fail in 18 months
-­‐“Why
New
Hires
Fail,”
Leadership
IQ,
2005
h;p://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/09/prweb287275.htm
-­‐

7. THE POWER OF MINDSET
Leads to
desire to
look smart
Leads to
desire to
learn
Growth MindsetFixed Mindset
Intelligence
isstatic
Intelligence
canbe
developed
DR. CAROL DWECK

8. 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 self-
correct 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.”
DR. CAROL DWECK

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

10. (IN)EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION HABITS

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

12. 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.

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

14. Pay attention, track yourself. Listen deeply. Acknowledge
what’s so. Take corrective action and lead by example. 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.
BROAD KEYS TO COMMUNICATION

15. RECIPE FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE
FRAMEWORK
Name the
Antidote
Assess Benefits
& Costs of
Behavior
Create a
Plan for
Change
ID the Behavior
that Doesn’t
Serve
Articulate the
Limiting Belief
(optional)

16. THE VALUE OF TENSION
AND CONFLICT

17. 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?

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

19. 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

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