It’s not business, it’s personal

Everything has a personal element. People come to work - we don't leave half of ourselves at home. Learning and understanding the people you work with makes for productive, engaged teams where we can all develop and perform to our full potential.

Play to strengths

Group and team performance is maximised by recognising, understanding and celebrating each others' strengths, collaborating for the benefit of team goals.  When individuals use and display their strengths, their engagement and contributions increase.

Think differently

There's (nearly) always another option. Pause. Consider alternatives to the usual path.  Look for opportunities to improve.  Challenge your own views. Celebrate those who have different opinions and approaches: learn from them and collaborate with them. 

Listen

Take the time to listen to what others have to say. Listen actively and engage with what is being said and how it's being said. Look for the emotions, motivations and assumptions behind the words. Listen to yourself: acknowledge and explore your feelings and emotions.

Ask more questions

Be curious and interested in others. Engage by asking open, non-judgemental questions to increase your understanding and broaden your perspectives.