"That Was a Weird Conversation"
In this episode of The Art of Asking Questions, host Andrea and guest Jen, VP of People Operations and author of the Substack Uncompliant, dissect the pitfalls of vague feedback and explore the "feed‑forward" technique pioneered by Marshall Goldsmith. They explain how well‑meaning managers often avoid direct criticism to preserve relationships, but end up leaving employees confused and unaccounted for, which can derail performance and careers. By shifting the conversation to future‑oriented suggestions while still naming the specific behavior, managers can provide clear, actionable guidance without triggering defensiveness. The discussion also highlights common patterns like the "preemptive pivot" and how unclear feedback harms both employees and managers across corporate and client settings.
What Persuasion Really Is
In a conversation with Josh, author of *How to Get What You Want*, the host explores a fresh definition of persuasion that prioritizes shared action over winning an argument. The book highlights Daryl Davis’s success in persuading over 200 KKK...
Turning Presentations Into Persuasion
In this episode, Andrea and Claire Barrett discuss how to transform detailed presentations into persuasive conversations with senior leaders. They highlight common pitfalls—overloading slides with data, failing to anticipate audience needs, and being derailed by unexpected meeting hijacks—and stress the...
Ask, Don't Argue
Blues guitarist Daryl Davis has convinced more than 200 former Ku Klux Klan members to renounce the group by repeatedly asking, “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” Joshua Bandoch’s new book *How to Get What...
Leading without a Script
The episode explores the hidden costs of ambiguous leadership through the fictional story of Rahul, a junior employee forced to "lean in" without clear direction, resulting in burnout and a missed opportunity for feedback. The host and guest, an HR...