Conversations stimulate progress when we talk with people and not at them. The best team cultures develop healthy ways they communicate together to stimulate progress.
SHOW NOTES
Jason introduces Season 9 episode 48 of the podcast, Conversations are the currency for change. Welcome back to the podcast on corporate culture and leadership and thank you for listening. We engage thought leaders like CEOs, CFOs, managers, VPs, directors, and more for this podcast. We wish to create content that engages your mind and heart and allows you to step back and think and add some positivity to your life. We deep dive into today’s topic.
We can’t control everything but what we can control is our response. Still a lot of work to do but wanted to remind the audience what is within our control is the temperature we create in the organizations and teams we work with.
Please leave a review for the podcast It really helps the podcast to spread these messages out into the world. Please share this podcast with your organization, on your team, or in your life to help spread these messages. Thank you!
If any of these topics are interesting to you please or you want a deep dive on any specific topics, please reach out to us at info@jasonvbarger.com
Conversations are the Currency for Change
In the fast-paced world of business, we often look for complex strategies or new technologies to drive progress. Yet, in The Thermostat Podcast, Jason V. Barger reminds us of a fundamental truth: in our relationships, our organizations, and our world, conversations are the currency for change.
If we want to shift our corporate culture or improve leadership in teams, we cannot simply wish for a different result while maintaining the same silence. We have to start talking about it—not at people, but with them.
Making the Uncomfortable “Mentionable”
Many leaders and teams fall into the trap of ruminating on issues or venting to third parties rather than addressing the root cause. This avoidance stifles growth. Jason draws inspiration from the philosophy of Mr. Rogers to offer a solution: “Anything that is human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can become more manageable.”
When we suppress our thoughts or frustrations regarding team dynamics, they become overwhelming and scary. However, once we actively mention them, we strip away the fear. By bringing issues into the light through honest dialogue, we can begin to develop strategies to manage them. This is the foundation of psychological safety in the workplace.
Escaping the Triangle of Dysfunction
One of the most common barriers to effective team communication is a psychological concept known as “triangulation.” This occurs when Person A has an issue with Person B, but instead of talking to Person B, they complain to Person C.
In this scenario, Person C holds immense power. In toxic cultures, Person C “breathes oxygen into the flames,” amplifying the drama and validating the gossip. However, in healthy cultures defined by strong leadership in teams, Person C chooses to “breathe oxygen into the person.”
To shift the culture, Person C must listen empathetically but then redirect Person B back to the source, encouraging them to have the direct conversation required to resolve the conflict. This shift from gossiping to direct resolution is how you set the temperature for a healthy environment.
Emotional Intelligence and the 5:1 Ratio
Navigating these conversations requires a high degree of emotional intelligence (EQ). Defined as the ability to recognize and manage emotions in ourselves and others, EQ reportedly accounts for 58% of performance in all types of jobs.
But difficult conversations are not the only requirement for a thriving culture. They must be balanced by a reservoir of positive interactions. Jason references the Gottman Institute’s research, which suggests that healthy relationships maintain a 5:1 ratio—five positive interactions for every one negative interaction.
Effective leaders build equity with their teams by consistently highlighting what is working and offering praise. When this foundation of positivity is established, “withdrawal” conversations—where critical feedback or difficult topics are addressed—are much easier to handle because trust has already been built.
Summary: Breathing Oxygen into Your Culture
Creating a compelling corporate culture does not happen by accident. It is shaped by the way we think, act, and interact. To stimulate progress, we must move beyond passive hope and engage in the active currency of conversation.
Whether it is practicing higher emotional intelligence, refusing to participate in triangulation, or maintaining a positive interaction ratio, the goal remains the same: to breathe oxygen into your people rather than the flames of conflict. When we make the challenging topics mentionable, we make the future manageable.
Notable Quotes from Jason V. Barger
“Most change is stimulated by a conversation. That’s a fancy way of saying that if we want anything to change… we’re probably going to have to start talking about it.”
“What is mentionable becomes more manageable. When we talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.”
“Am I going to choose to breathe oxygen into the flames… or am I going to choose to breathe oxygen into the people?”
“Culture is shaped by the way we think, act, and interact.”
“Conversations become that currency for change. It helps us find clarity. It requires us to have courage, but it helps us to create opportunities to then say, ‘Well, what’s the next action?’”
Questions to Ponder
As you look to set the temperature in your own organization, consider these questions Jason asks us to reflect upon:
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What is weighing on you (or those around you) right now that needs to be mentioned?
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When will you create the space to mention the challenges your team is facing so you can commit to managing the road ahead?
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What strategies do you need to deploy next to have the conversation that will serve as the currency for the change you seek?
Links and References
Follow @JasonVBarger on social media for even more insights and new video content.
For more insights and practical tips, be sure to check out Jason V Barger’s book Breathing Oxygen. This book dives deeper into the concepts discussed in this episode and provides additional strategies for fostering a positive mindset and effective leadership.
By incorporating these practices into your summer routine, you can breathe new life into your personal and professional endeavors. Remember, as Jason says, “The best leaders, teams, and cultures on the planet stimulate progress by recalibrating their thermostat together.”
Please leave a review for the podcast It really helps the podcast to spread these messages out into the world. Please share this podcast with your organization, on your team, or in your life to help spread these messages. Thank you!
If any of these topics are interesting to you please or you want a deep dive on any specific topics, please reach out to us at info@jasonvbarger.com
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Remember, the best leaders, teams, & cultures stimulate progress by recalibrating their thermostat together.
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ABOUT THE THERMOSTAT
Conversations and micro-thoughts to engage your mind and heart.
A thermostat is proactive. It sets the temperature in a room. Controls the temperature. Regulates the temperature. But in today’s distracted, fast-paced and digital world, it’s easy for individuals and organizations to act more like thermometers, slipping into reactionary thinking, becoming scattered and inconsistent. The most compelling leaders, teams, organizations, families, or collection of humans of any kind operate in thermostat mode. They calibrate their mind and heart to set the temperature for the vision and culture they want to create. Jason Barger, globally celebrated author, keynote speaker, and founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting, is the host of The Thermostat, a podcast journey to discover authentic leadership, create compelling cultures and find clarity of mission, vision, and values.