Office of Outreach, Diversity and Equal Opportunity

Cooperative Resolution Program

“Collaborative Conversations”

Jeff Schmitt

Human Resources Specialist

National Advisory Council for

Office Professionals

August 19, 2010

Norman, OK

Improve communication skills to:

- Foster diversity and inclusion in theworkplace

- Build collaborative relationships that

emphasize trust and respect

- Minimize workplace disagreements

- more generations in the workplace

- traditional resources gone

- new technology/automation

- increased diversity in the workforce

- more responsibilities

Not restricted to anyone group A person who behaves in an non-exclusive or

even discriminatory way does not have to have negative intent

We can make mistakes without even knowing it

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Make your best effort to take the time to get to know and appreciate one another (face-to-face conversation)

Listen to each other’s natural consequences Be open-minded and non-judgmental Incorporate natural talents into work activities

Dialogue cannot begin without mutual purpose and mutual trust

Without mutual purpose people will withhold meaning

Mutual purpose is the foundation of trust Dialogue ceases when respect is violated

Apologize for your role in causing/not preventing pain or difficulty when appropriate

Contrast to fix misunderstandings Create mutual purpose (CRIB)

Imagine what others might erroneously conclude Immediately explain that this is what you don’t

mean Explain what you do mean

Commit to seek Mutual Purpose - Our solution is not the only one

Recognize the Purpose Behind the Strategy - We confuse wants with strategies

Invent a Mutual Purpose - Focus on long-term goals

Brainstorm New Strategies - Step back into dialogue

Be true to your true talents No one gets ahead without the help of others

and without helping others Take your life experiences and transform them

into successes by seeing the lessons they contain (i.e., a free education)

Your character is not defined during the happy times, but rather during those times when the roadblocks seem permanent

Everyday ask yourself, “What did I do to get better and to stretch beyond limits?” (Do not set unrealistically high expectations)

Know that happiness is an inside job and know that you are in control of your attitude (hold yourself accountable to yourself)

Strive for harmony, not balance

www.afm.ars.usda.gov/programs/coopres

Jan Lewis 301-504-1450Jeff Schmitt 301-504-1352