Last week I ran my Conflict Resolution program (The Elephants Among Us: Talking about the Hard Things at Work and Beyond) for the energetic staff at the YMCA of North Central Ohio and I’m proud to share that, once again, my Speak Up cards were extremely well-received.
Speak Up cards are a small deck of cards used to ease difficult conversations. I designed them for the workgroups, teams, and leaders I mentor and coach, but they also work well for one-on-one conversations and even tense discussions between family members.
I have now shared them with organizations in a number of industries and communities, including tech, manufacturing, social service, and nonprofit in both large cities and small towns, with a 100% positive response.
They can be used in a handful of different ways:
- Option 1: Deal a complete set to each team member. When something difficult needs to be said, but you’re having trouble getting the words out, simply throw the approrpriate card onto the table.
- Option 2: Lay out one set on the table in front of the group. When it’s time to say the hard thing, grab the appropriate card and hold it up.
- Option 3: Encourage participation. Again, lay out the cards on the table in front of the group. When the hard thing needs to be recognized, slap the appropriate card. The team member “wins” the round by being the the first to slap the card.
- Option 4: Choose your own adventure. What other ways could you imagine using these cards to encourage the hard work of engaging in tough conversations?
Speak Up cards, along with my Conflict Resolution Framework and Social Glue Action Plan, are included as part of my Conflict Resolution program so that your team walks away with the tools necessary to engage in real, constructive conversation immediately following the session.
If you’d like to improve outcomes for your workplace, church, or social organization, I’d love to share this content with your team. Let’s chat about how we can all be more prepared to face the “elephants in the room”.
If a guided session is not “in the cards” (ha, see what I did there?!) for your group right now, you can also purchase your own deck(s) here: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/nicole-derr
nicolederr.com 