259. Quick Thinks: Task-Focused to People-Focused—A Smarter Way to Communicate

The podcast explores the concepts of "doing mode" and "spacious mode" in communication, emphasizing the importance of agility in shifting between them to foster better interactions. Megan Reitz, an associate fellow at University of Oxford SAID Business School, highlights that organizations often prioritize the "doing mode," focused on tasks, over the "spacious mode," which allows for purpose, reflection, and relationship building. Psychological safety is crucial for enabling the spacious mode, as fear narrows perspective. The discussion also covers the "superiority illusion," where individuals overestimate their listening skills, and the necessity of responding constructively when others speak up, even if clumsily.