Hi everyone, its been a while and I hope everyone's been going great. My energy and commitments have been elsewhere and because of that I haven't given this group priority. To hear all about it, check out the quick video I made! https://youtu.be/4Ts4DHyYR8Y

For members of Cluster 1, your tenth mission is ready! Please check the "Classroom" for details 📝 If you haven't submitted Mission 9 yet, please get it in as soon as possible. Timely submissions are key to ensuring your progress aligns with the rest of your Cluster.

Assertive & direct communication is all about striking a balance, being straightforward without being dismissive, being assertive without being aggressive. The benefits of direct & respectful communication extend beyond the workplace. These skills are transferable to personal relationships, helping to build stronger connections and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner. By practising clear and respectful communication in all aspects of life, we can enhance our overall interpersonal effectiveness and personal growth. You can access the full video in the classroom 📚 ______________ For those who favour reading over watching, below is the transcript 👇 Lastly, number seven what have we got? Addressing forgetfulness. Someone repeatedly forgets important tasks or information, and the passive aggressive person turns around and says, wow, you're really good at forgetting things, aren't you? In this context, the person is annoyed by the forgetfulness and masks their frustration with sarcasm. You see the common themes here. The abrasive person forgetting stuff again? Listen, we don't get paid to remind you so, hey, try to keep up. Yeah? Little bit too over the top. So this is when the colleague is openly frustrated and critical about the repeated forgetfulness. Now what does the powerful person do? It seems like this slipped your mind again. Let's find a way to keep track of it. So this is when a manager or team leader wants to address the issue constructively, focusing on solutions rather than criticism. So that's the end of the seven and these rephrased versions aim to maintain a constructive and respectable tone focusing on clear communication and collaboration rather than implying criticism or frustration. Clear and direct communication is crucial in many industries as well as personal relationships. So although I spoke into the context of work and career, they can easily be applied in any environment. Now I don't wanna dive into personal relationships today as I wanna stay with the theme of work and business. So let's quickly look at how this approach could be beneficial in six other settings that I've used here, industry settings. The first one is health care. Direct communication can avoid misunderstandings and ensure patient safety.

The importance of recognising and valuing team members' expertise is immense. By responding with openness and respect, rather than scepticism or confrontation, leaders can create an environment where team members feel confident to contribute their knowledge. This approach creates a collaborative culture and maximises the team's potential. If you’re an eager learner and prefer to watch the full video, you can access it in the classroom 📚 ______________ For those who favour reading over watching, below is the transcript 👇 Moving on to example number six, acknowledging expertise. So in this scenario, a team member suggests a solution on their specific expertise. And the passive-aggressive person responds, oh, I didn't realise you were an expert in this area. This person doubts the team member's expertise but doesn't want to challenge it openly. The abrasive person, ah, so you're the expert now. Go on let's see your grand plan. Once again, it's a power struggle. And this person is sceptical and confrontational about the team member's expertise. The direct person that communicates and responds powerfully. They could say something like, it sounds like you have experience in this area. Let's hear your ideas and your perspective. So when this person or colleague acknowledges and values the team member's expertise, what they're doing is they're encouraging them to share their knowledge, their information. It opens up a bigger dialogue.

Responding to concerns with honesty and appreciation is essential. Avoiding dismissive or harsh reactions and instead addressing concerns directly and respectfully shows you value the person's care while maintaining your boundaries. This approach enhances trust & facilitates open communication within the team. If you’re an eager learner and prefer to watch the full video, you can access it in the classroom 📚 ______________ For those who favour reading over watching, below is the transcript 👇 Example number five, responding to concerns. We all have concerns. Scenario, when you are asked about your well-being after seeming stressed or overwhelmed, the passive-aggressive person will respond. I'm fine, no need to fuss over me. In this context, the person wants to brush off the concern, but he's actually feeling down. The abrasive person, I said I'm fine, seriously, cut it out. Don't make a bigger deal than what it actually is. This is when the person is irritated by the concern and wants to end the conversation quickly. They're lacking the tools to soften things over. Direct person, hey I'm okay, thank you. I'm just processing at the moment. When or if I need something or some assistance, whatever it may be, I'll let you know. And in this context, the person appreciates the concern but prefers to handle the situation independently. Moving on to example number six, acknowledging expertise...