Ep 129 | Learning to talk like humans at work with Michael Lee

Can we talk? I feel like we can't, actually. At least not at work. We can make word noises out of our faces but most of it is overly polite, passive aggressive, aggressive/aggressive, or corporate gobbledegook.

It's ridiculous, really. Yet another way our workplaces are distinctly not human.

That's why I brought Michael Lee onto this week's DesuckifyWork® podcast. He's all about making work more pro-human. By helping people have useful conversations, especially ones where we embrace conflict.

Conflict helps us learn, solve problems, make ideas better.

But we spend so much energy avoiding it because our caveman brains fear we'll get thrown to the Woolly Mammoths if we don't keep the peace.

Also, most of us suck at conflict. Michael has spent years researching how we can get better at it. And he shares a bunch of those ideas during this episode. My favorite? Arguing for someone else's POV, especially one we don't agree with.

That practice alone would probably take about 80% of the suck out of workplace communication. It might have an even great effect on weighty conversations outside of work like politics, religion or your favorite Beyonce song.

My favorite is the one that's playing out of earshot. But I'd be happy to argue in favor of whatever you like.

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Welcome to the DesuckifyWork® podcast. The show where we cut through the BS and find ways to make work more fun, more human and less ridiculous. All of which makes your business more profitable, by the way. This episode is part of our ongoing Prohuman Series, in partnership with the Prohuman Foundation.

(If you enjoy this one, please like, share, rate, review or subscribe to the podcast.)

Let the desuckifying begin.

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You can follow Michael on LinkedIn. And check out The Civility Initiative at The University of Charleston to learn more about his work and his podcast "When We Disagree."

If you enjoyed the conversation and would like to find some calm in the chaos of work, I invite you to schedule a free half-hour discovery session. Type "meow" in the calendar invite and I'll also send you a free DesuckifyWork® t-shirt!

Bye, everyone!

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Bonus questions from Michael:Why do you like spending time listening to this podcast?