Radical Alignment: How to Have Game-Changing Conversations That Will Transform Your Business and Your Life

Recognize the optimism. If people were willing to take risks, try new ideas, and think outside the box, point out their commitment to optimism. This is a key ingredient in engagement, creativity, and innovation, and every team, couple, and company needs more optimism. Encourage the optimism you witnessed in the conversation by supporting ongoing ex

Curiosity, deep listening, and a sense of humor add up to a sense of presence. When we are fully present in our interactions, it is easier to have a nuanced understanding of, and empathy for, the other people involved.

The first behavior that predicted a high-performing team was equal speaking time among team members. If

The same studies show that our brains ask the “caring” question first. This makes sense because historically and evolutionarily, trusting someone who is capable but does not care is likely to be a fatal mistake, but trusting someone who cares but is not capable might only be inconvenient because other resources can be found. This is why psychologis

If this goes incredibly well, what will be true after it is over? How will you feel during and afterward? Where will you be in your life, career, or geographically? What business metrics will have shifted? And by how much?

You can think of boundaries as design criteria for a shared experience. Designers will tell you that constraints are needed to generate creativity and that no good design happens without them. As you discuss each team member’s personal boundaries, you articulate what the team needs to be at its best. It is kind to share your boundaries with others

A Jeffersonian dinner is a long-running example of a rules-based gathering. These are designed based on dinners Thomas Jefferson used to host. The dinners are limited to fourteen people and are driven by one rule—you are not allowed to talk to the person next to you but must speak to the table as a whole. This creates a specific kind of interaction

Finally, ask the big question. How safe do you feel in this team or this relationship? If in a work

Sticking to a single topic and agenda is usually what creates forward momentum. But topic creep can also indicate that the topic wasn’t properly framed in the first place or that there is misunderstanding or emotional misalignment.