Refl ect on a change that you feel should take place in your organization (this could be at an individual, group, business unit, or whole organizational level) and which interpersonal issues have made diffi cult to take forward. Now recall a problematic conversation with someone about this, or imagine one that you would need to have in order to progress the change. Take several sheets of paper and draw a line down the centre. In the right-hand column, write out the conversation that occurred or which you think would occur if you were to raise the matter, as if you are writing a scene from a play, setting out your lines and the other person’s lines. When you have fi nished this, in the left-hand column, write notes on the thoughts or feelings that you would keep to yourself. Now consider the following.

● Were the outcomes of the conversation benefi cial to achieving the change that you want?

● How might your side of the conversation have contributed to any diffi culties?

● Why did you avoid saying what was in your left-hand column? On what values is this reticence based?

● How could you have broached some of what was not said (that is, in your left-hand column) in a productive and benefi cial way? You may fi nd it helpful to discuss this with a trusted friend.