Communicate & Elevate - July

Tip on communication - Conflict Resolution Skill

Effective conflict resolution is a pivotal skill for leaders, as it directly impacts team cohesion and productivity. A key communication tip for leaders is to address conflicts promptly and constructively. Rather than allowing disagreements to fester, leaders should facilitate open dialogue, encouraging all parties to voice their concerns and perspectives. This approach not only prevents escalation but also fosters a culture of transparency and trust. By actively listening and demonstrating empathy, leaders can identify the root causes of conflict and work towards a mutually beneficial resolution. It’s important for leaders to remain neutral, avoid taking sides, and focus on finding solutions that align with the team’s goals and values.

Case study: Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines stands as a paragon of effective communication within the corporate world, largely due to its innovative Culture Committee. Established in 1991 by then Executive Vice President Colleen Barrett, the committee was initially formed to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary. However, its success led to it becoming a permanent fixture, embodying the airline’s commitment to its core values and employee engagement.

The Culture Committee is a cross-departmental body that includes employees from various levels and locations within the company. Its primary role is to preserve and enrich the airline’s unique culture, which is characterised by a family-like atmosphere and legendary hospitality. The committee organizes events, facilitates discussions, and serves as a conduit for sharing ideas and concerns among the workforce. This structure ensures that every employee has a voice and that the company’s values are reflected in every aspect of its operations.

One of the key successes of the Culture Committee is its ability to foster open and transparent communication. Quarterly meetings bring together members from all over the system to share their thoughts and concerns directly with senior leaders1. This direct line of communication ensures that issues are addressed promptly and that the company’s leadership is attuned to the needs and sentiments of its employees. The result is a strong, unified corporate culture that enhances employee morale and, by extension, customer service. Southwest’s approach demonstrates how dedicated communication efforts can lead to a positive and productive workplace environment. The Culture Committee’s initiatives have become a cornerstone of Southwest’s identity, making it a compelling case study for effective communication in the workplace.

Trend: Deployment of artificial intelligence (AI)

The current trend in the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and the corresponding need for skill development is a significant topic of discussion and action across Europe. As AI and automation technologies advance, they are expected to reshape the labor market, influencing both the demand for certain jobs and the skills required to perform them. According to recent research, Europe could see up to 30 percent of current work hours automated by 2030, accelerated by the advent of generative AI. This shift is anticipated to increase the demand for workers in STEM-related fields, healthcare, and other high-skill professions, while reducing the need for occupations such as office and production workers, and customer service representatives.

In response to these changes, there is a growing emphasis on the need for substantial skill upgrades within the workforce. The demand for technological skills, as well as social and emotional skills, is expected to rise, while the need for physical, manual, and higher cognitive skills may stabilise. European executives have expressed a particular need for advanced IT and data analytics capabilities, along with critical thinking, creativity, and teaching skills — competencies that are reportedly in short supply currently. To address these gaps, companies are planning to focus more on retraining their existing workers rather than hiring new ones or subcontracting1. This trend underscores the importance of lifelong learning and adaptability in the workforce as key strategies to navigate the evolving demands of the AI-driven future of work.

Keylearnings from "Made to Stick" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Simplicity: Keep your message simple and core.

Unexpectedness: Capture attention by breaking patterns.

Concreteness: Use concrete examples to make your message clear.

Credibility: Make your ideas credible and believable.

Emotions: Appeal to emotions to enhance engagement.

Stories: Use stories to make your message memorable.

Sticky Ideas: Focus on creating ideas that stick in the mind.

Avoiding the Curse of Knowledge: Avoid assuming others have your background knowledge.

Teaching with Ideas: Use these principles to teach effectively.

Message Testing: Test your messages to ensure they stick.

Blogpost: CROSSROADS 2024: ECONOMIC STAGNATION OR PRODUCTIVITY-DRIVEN FUTURE?

As we stand at the threshold of 2024, the global economy teeters on the brink of two divergent paths: one leading to economic stagnation and the other to a future of productivity-driven abundance. The choices made by business leaders today will determine which path we take. The recent McKinsey report highlights the potential for a brighter future, fueled by the convergence of several transformative forces, including the first successful fusion experiment, the vast promise of applied AI, mRNA therapeutics, gene editing, and other technology trends. Read more here .

On a different note: Tri-lingual communication for children

I have a new book! Not a business book this time! It is the first children's book that I published.?It was sparked by a new member to the family, named Marco. It is a short story that is telling the story of a little bear called Marco and his adventure in the forest.The book is tri-lingual: Italian, English, German and comes with the audio files so that the baby/child can listen to the story in these languages. The idea behind it is to get the baby/child used to listening to the different languages so it learns them later on in an easier way. At the end of the book there are also animals and their names in these three languages (including audio file).The book is aimed at 0-7 year olds. So if you have children or know someone that might be interested I would be grateful if you get a copy AND leave a review on Amazon :-) You can check it out here.

Have a great rest of the day!

Christine