12 Essential Conversations for Project Success

Shawn Kent Hayashi shares insights from her book on the 12 fundamental conversations every project leader should master to be truly effective. Listen to the audio or download the full transcripts below.

Whether we are trying to gain commitment from a team member, set expectations for a project stakeholder, or negotiate a contract with a vendor, the type and quality of the conversations we have will impact the outcomes we get. Ultimately, the kind of conversations we have or don’t have, with our teams and stakeholders, will determine whether our projects succeed or fail.

Shawn Kent Hayashi identified the twelve fundamental conversations every project leader should master to be truly effective. Her book “Conversations for change” is based on more than two decades studying how conversations impact results. From conversations for creating new possibilities, structure, and commitment to conversations for accountability, breakdown, and conflict resolution, Shawn describes when, how and why to have each conversation and the risks involved in engaging in the wrong type of conversation.

In this interview, we discuss each of the twelve conversations and how to use them effectively.

The Interview

Listen now:

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Download full transcripts here.

In this interview, we discuss the following questions:

  • How did you get interested in exploring the topic of change conversations and what motivated you to write your latest book “Conversations for change:  12 ways to say it right when it matters the most
  • You open the book by introducing principles of Emotional Intelligence. Why should project managers understand emotions as a pre-requisite for developing the capacity to have effective and meaningful change conversations?
  • You say that values are the glue that holds relationships together and you identify 6 values that determine why we do what we and therefore impact our conversations. What is the role of these values or motivators in change conversations?
  • You describe 4 communication styles that can help us understand understanding our own communication preferences as well as where other people, individually or in teams, are coming from in their own communication. Talk to us about these 4 communication styles
  • The book describes 12 different types of conversation that are important for leading teams today. Talk to us about each type and how we can best use it in our projects as we lead others.
  • Based on your research and leadership coaching experience, which of the 12 conversations presents the most challenge to people.
  • What do you hope readers will take with them after reading “Conversations for change:  12 ways to say it right when it matters the most”?
  • I understand you are working on a new book that coming in early 2012. Can you tell us a little bit about the new book and some of the insights that we should look forward to?

More about Shawn Kent Hayashi:

Hayashi is the founder and CEO of The Professional Development Group and author of five business communication books. Using an assessment-based approach, The Professional Development Group shows people how to improve their communication skills, build stronger relationships and teams, and develop their natural talents. Hayashi also coaches organizations on how to apply the assessment methodology to their talent management efforts. Clients include Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies, universities, and entrepreneurial organizations. A certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, Shawn Kent Hayashi earned her M.S. in Organization Dynamics from The University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she holds a number of certifications in assessment analysis and serves on the boards of several professional organizations.

Contact Information:

 Audio Links:

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

Or

Download full transcripts here.

 

4 Responses to 12 Essential Conversations for Project Success
  1. Don Pasqual
    April 3, 2012 | 2:12 am

    I am really excited to get this book. I believe that regardless of profession, communication skills are the biggest factor in getting ahead and getting more done.
    Thanks for the great interview.

    • samad_aidane
      April 11, 2012 | 12:23 pm

      Thank you Don for your comments. I agee. Project management is all about communication.

  2. Michelle Symonds
    April 11, 2012 | 12:14 pm

    I have always been a great believer in having good conversations with everyone involved in a project, formal and informal, and know this style of project management leads to more successful projects. But what I have learnt from this interview is that I need to identify the different motivators that different individuals have and the different types of conversations required with those individuals: whether to focus on the business and results, or at a more personal level, or on processes and how things work, or on quality and the detail. It’s clear that the most successful project managers need a whole range of skills and need to be experts at simply understanding human beings.

    • samad_aidane
      April 11, 2012 | 12:22 pm

      Thank you Michelle for the great comment. I agree, we need a whole range of skills and need to be experts at simply understanding human beings. I I believe that all project problems and people problems, even when sometimes they mask themselves as technical problems. Thank you again and look forward to future conversations.

12 Essential Conversations for Project Success

Shawn Kent Hayashi shares insights from her book on the 12 fundamental conversations every project leader should master to be truly effective. Listen to the audio or download the full transcripts below.

Whether we are trying to gain commitment from a team member, set expectations for a project stakeholder, or negotiate a contract with a vendor, the type and quality of the conversations we have will impact the outcomes we get. Ultimately, the kind of conversations we have or don’t have, with our teams and stakeholders, will determine whether our projects succeed or fail.

Shawn Kent Hayashi identified the twelve fundamental conversations every project leader should master to be truly effective. Her book “Conversations for change” is based on more than two decades studying how conversations impact results. From conversations for creating new possibilities, structure, and commitment to conversations for accountability, breakdown, and conflict resolution, Shawn describes when, how and why to have each conversation and the risks involved in engaging in the wrong type of conversation.

In this interview, we discuss each of the twelve conversations and how to use them effectively.

The Interview

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

Or

Download full transcripts here.

In this interview, we discuss the following questions:

  • How did you get interested in exploring the topic of change conversations and what motivated you to write your latest book “Conversations for change:  12 ways to say it right when it matters the most
  • You open the book by introducing principles of Emotional Intelligence. Why should project managers understand emotions as a pre-requisite for developing the capacity to have effective and meaningful change conversations?
  • You say that values are the glue that holds relationships together and you identify 6 values that determine why we do what we and therefore impact our conversations. What is the role of these values or motivators in change conversations?
  • You describe 4 communication styles that can help us understand understanding our own communication preferences as well as where other people, individually or in teams, are coming from in their own communication. Talk to us about these 4 communication styles
  • The book describes 12 different types of conversation that are important for leading teams today. Talk to us about each type and how we can best use it in our projects as we lead others.
  • Based on your research and leadership coaching experience, which of the 12 conversations presents the most challenge to people.
  • What do you hope readers will take with them after reading “Conversations for change:  12 ways to say it right when it matters the most”?
  • I understand you are working on a new book that coming in early 2012. Can you tell us a little bit about the new book and some of the insights that we should look forward to?

More about Shawn Kent Hayashi:

Hayashi is the founder and CEO of The Professional Development Group and author of five business communication books. Using an assessment-based approach, The Professional Development Group shows people how to improve their communication skills, build stronger relationships and teams, and develop their natural talents. Hayashi also coaches organizations on how to apply the assessment methodology to their talent management efforts. Clients include Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies, universities, and entrepreneurial organizations. A certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, Shawn Kent Hayashi earned her M.S. in Organization Dynamics from The University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she holds a number of certifications in assessment analysis and serves on the boards of several professional organizations.

Contact Information:

 Audio Links:

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

Or

Download full transcripts here.

 

4 Responses to 12 Essential Conversations for Project Success
  1. Don Pasqual
    April 3, 2012 | 2:12 am

    I am really excited to get this book. I believe that regardless of profession, communication skills are the biggest factor in getting ahead and getting more done.
    Thanks for the great interview.

    • samad_aidane
      April 11, 2012 | 12:23 pm

      Thank you Don for your comments. I agee. Project management is all about communication.

  2. Michelle Symonds
    April 11, 2012 | 12:14 pm

    I have always been a great believer in having good conversations with everyone involved in a project, formal and informal, and know this style of project management leads to more successful projects. But what I have learnt from this interview is that I need to identify the different motivators that different individuals have and the different types of conversations required with those individuals: whether to focus on the business and results, or at a more personal level, or on processes and how things work, or on quality and the detail. It’s clear that the most successful project managers need a whole range of skills and need to be experts at simply understanding human beings.

    • samad_aidane
      April 11, 2012 | 12:22 pm

      Thank you Michelle for the great comment. I agree, we need a whole range of skills and need to be experts at simply understanding human beings. I I believe that all project problems and people problems, even when sometimes they mask themselves as technical problems. Thank you again and look forward to future conversations.

12 Essential Conversations for Project Success

Shawn Kent Hayashi shares insights from her book on the 12 fundamental conversations every project leader should master to be truly effective. Listen to the audio or download the full transcripts below.

Whether we are trying to gain commitment from a team member, set expectations for a project stakeholder, or negotiate a contract with a vendor, the type and quality of the conversations we have will impact the outcomes we get. Ultimately, the kind of conversations we have or don’t have, with our teams and stakeholders, will determine whether our projects succeed or fail.

Shawn Kent Hayashi identified the twelve fundamental conversations every project leader should master to be truly effective. Her book “Conversations for change” is based on more than two decades studying how conversations impact results. From conversations for creating new possibilities, structure, and commitment to conversations for accountability, breakdown, and conflict resolution, Shawn describes when, how and why to have each conversation and the risks involved in engaging in the wrong type of conversation.

In this interview, we discuss each of the twelve conversations and how to use them effectively.

The Interview

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

Or

Download full transcripts here.

In this interview, we discuss the following questions:

  • How did you get interested in exploring the topic of change conversations and what motivated you to write your latest book “Conversations for change:  12 ways to say it right when it matters the most
  • You open the book by introducing principles of Emotional Intelligence. Why should project managers understand emotions as a pre-requisite for developing the capacity to have effective and meaningful change conversations?
  • You say that values are the glue that holds relationships together and you identify 6 values that determine why we do what we and therefore impact our conversations. What is the role of these values or motivators in change conversations?
  • You describe 4 communication styles that can help us understand understanding our own communication preferences as well as where other people, individually or in teams, are coming from in their own communication. Talk to us about these 4 communication styles
  • The book describes 12 different types of conversation that are important for leading teams today. Talk to us about each type and how we can best use it in our projects as we lead others.
  • Based on your research and leadership coaching experience, which of the 12 conversations presents the most challenge to people.
  • What do you hope readers will take with them after reading “Conversations for change:  12 ways to say it right when it matters the most”?
  • I understand you are working on a new book that coming in early 2012. Can you tell us a little bit about the new book and some of the insights that we should look forward to?

More about Shawn Kent Hayashi:

Hayashi is the founder and CEO of The Professional Development Group and author of five business communication books. Using an assessment-based approach, The Professional Development Group shows people how to improve their communication skills, build stronger relationships and teams, and develop their natural talents. Hayashi also coaches organizations on how to apply the assessment methodology to their talent management efforts. Clients include Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies, universities, and entrepreneurial organizations. A certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, Shawn Kent Hayashi earned her M.S. in Organization Dynamics from The University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she holds a number of certifications in assessment analysis and serves on the boards of several professional organizations.

Contact Information:

 Audio Links:

Listen now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right click here to download the MP3

Or

Download full transcripts here.

 

4 Responses to 12 Essential Conversations for Project Success
  1. Don Pasqual
    April 3, 2012 | 2:12 am

    I am really excited to get this book. I believe that regardless of profession, communication skills are the biggest factor in getting ahead and getting more done.
    Thanks for the great interview.

    • samad_aidane
      April 11, 2012 | 12:23 pm

      Thank you Don for your comments. I agee. Project management is all about communication.

  2. Michelle Symonds
    April 11, 2012 | 12:14 pm

    I have always been a great believer in having good conversations with everyone involved in a project, formal and informal, and know this style of project management leads to more successful projects. But what I have learnt from this interview is that I need to identify the different motivators that different individuals have and the different types of conversations required with those individuals: whether to focus on the business and results, or at a more personal level, or on processes and how things work, or on quality and the detail. It’s clear that the most successful project managers need a whole range of skills and need to be experts at simply understanding human beings.

    • samad_aidane
      April 11, 2012 | 12:22 pm

      Thank you Michelle for the great comment. I agree, we need a whole range of skills and need to be experts at simply understanding human beings. I I believe that all project problems and people problems, even when sometimes they mask themselves as technical problems. Thank you again and look forward to future conversations.