Crucial Skills | Management & Accountability

Confessions of a New Manager: How to Set Your New Leaders Up for Success

Stepping into a management role for the first time is harder than most new bosses let on, and harder than most employees realize.  Joseph Grenny shares findings from a study conducted with new managers, revealing four surprising "confessions" about how new leaders see themselves and how their teams actually experience them. The data paints a picture of what organizations are getting wrong about preparing people for leadership positions. Joseph also draws on 35 years of research to argue that the most important measure of a leader's effectiveness is the lag time between when a problem is recognized and when it is actually talked about. By using real-world scenarios, he walks through the most common mistakes new managers make when conflict arises, and offers a framework for holding important and effective conversations. Chapters [Start] The Four Confessions: Joseph Grenny introduces research on new managers, framing four key findings around how managers and employees perceive the transition into leadership. 02:11 Confessions 1 & 2: Why new bosses are hiding their uncertainty, and a look at how managers and employees disagree on what earned the promotion. 06:36 Confessions 3 & 4: The struggle for new managers to delegate without micromanaging, and issues with leadership training. 10:22 The Central Challenge: Research across 35 years that points to one defining skill gap between managers and employees. 22:16 Choosing the Right Conversation: Why most people chase the wrong topic in crucial moments, and a three-level framework for getting to the real issue. Links and Resources * Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=podcast] * Leadership Confessions - ebook [https://vitalsmarts.widen.net/s/t5h6kgb6vd/ebook---leadership-confessions] * Crucial Conversations for Accountability [https://cruciallearning.com/courses/crucial-conversations-for-accountability/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=crucialskillspodcast] Learn more about Joseph Grenny here. [https://cruciallearning.com/blog/author/joseph-grenny/] The Crucial Skills Podcast is brought to you by the authors and experts at Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/], home of Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue and Crucial Conversations for Accountability training.

How to Handle Criticism Without Getting Defensive | Three Practical Ways to Turn Feedback Into Growth

Have you ever heard the phrase "constructive criticism" and immediately felt your guard go up? You're not alone. For many people, feedback feels personal, uncomfortable, or even discouraging, especially when it's delivered imperfectly. But what if the key to growth isn't changing how feedback is given, but changing how we receive it? Emily Gregory explores why so many people struggle with criticism and shares practical strategies for approaching feedback with a more productive mindset. Rather than focusing on the person delivering the message, Emily encourages listeners to examine their own reactions and discover ways to stay open to learning, even when feedback feels difficult to hear. Through relatable examples and actionable advice, Emily outlines several simple techniques that can help transform feedback from something we dread into something we can use. Whether you're receiving feedback from a manager, colleague, mentor, or friend, this episode offers dialogue skills for improving communication, building resilience, and finding value in perspectives that can help you grow. Chapters [Start] Why We Resist Criticism: Emily explores why feedback often feels uncomfortable and why many people instinctively push it away. 02:43 A Different Perspective on Feedback: How changing your mindset can influence the way feedback conversations unfold. 03:41 Moving Beyond Vague Criticism: A practical approach to getting more value from feedback conversations. 04:43 Choosing What to Keep: Why not every piece of feedback needs to be treated the same way. 05:39 Staying Open to Growth: How thoughtful responses to feedback can strengthen communication and personal development. Links and Resources * Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=podcast] * Constructive Criticism: How to Hear It When You’d Rather Not [https://cruciallearning.com/blog/constructive-criticism-how-to-hear-it-when-youd-rather-not/] * Feedsmacked Presentation from 2019 REACH Conference [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HVpCfNjc14] * Crucial Conversations for Accountability [https://cruciallearning.com/courses/crucial-conversations-for-accountability/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=crucialskillspodcast%5D] Learn more about Emily Gregory here. [https://cruciallearning.com/blog/author/emily-gregory/] The Crucial Skills Podcast is brought to you by the authors and experts at Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/], home of Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue and Crucial Conversations for Accountability training.

Feedsmacked: Crucial Skills to Receive Tough Feedback

Most of us have spent years learning how to give feedback well, but what about when you're on the receiving end of something unexpected or blunt?  Joseph Grenny looks back on 35 years of his own research to explore this exact problem: how we receive feedback, and why our emotional response may have less to do with the delivery than we think. Drawing on a study of 445 “feedsmack” episodes, Joseph shares the findings about what actually drives our reactions. He introduces listeners to the students of The Other Side Academy, a rehabilitation community whose approach to peer feedback offers a masterclass in emotional resilience, self-awareness, and the pursuit of truth over approval. Chapters [Start] Defining "Feedsmack": Joseph introduces the concept of feedsmack and shares real examples from a 445-person study. 06:58 The Way of the Warrior Kid: A real-life story about a children's book that sparks a conversation about ownership and interpreting feedback. 14:00 Lessons from The Other Side Academy: Students share strategies they use to receive blunt feedback, and Joseph introduces the C-U-R-E framework. 25:04 The Root Problem: The deeper psychological barriers to receiving feedback well, and why safety and worth are more internal than we realize. 36:34 Q&A with Heather Trout: Heather fields audience questions regarding difficult feedback and responding to workplace bullying. Links and Resources * Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=podcast] * Feedsmacked: Crucial Skills to Receive Tough Feedback [https://vitalsmarts.widen.net/s/bmnfrxkdds/ebook---feedsmacked] Learn more about Joseph Grenny here. [https://cruciallearning.com/blog/author/joseph-grenny/] The Crucial Skills Podcast is brought to you by the authors and experts at Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/], home of Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue and Crucial Conversations for Accountability training.

Working with Difficult People | How to Increase Understanding with Brittney Maxfield

We've all had that person at work whose style rubs you the wrong way. It's easy to write them off as difficult. But what if the story you're telling yourself about them isn't the full picture? Brittney Maxfield introduces a powerful framework called the Strength Deployment Inventory® (SDI ®) that reframes the way we see frustrating behavior at work. The SDI shapes these behaviors not as character flaws, but as overdone strengths. It helps us to see that most people genuinely have a good motive, even if it doesn’t come across that way. Brittney walks through the three core motives that drive people at work and explains how our own motives distort how we perceive others. She offers a four-step framework for having a productive conversation with even your most challenging colleague. Whether you've been avoiding a hard conversation or dreading your next one-on-one, this episode gives you a framework to walk in with clarity, empathy, and a real plan. Chapters [Start] The Hardest Part About Working With People: Brittney opens with a relatable question about difficult work relationships. 01:14 The SDI Framework: An overview of the Strength Deployment Inventory and its three core motives. 03:53 Four Steps for Difficult Conversations: A practical breakdown of four easy steps to navigate a difficult conversation. 06:49 Tying It All Together: Brittney ties the framework together and reinforces that these skills make Crucial Conversations more possible. Links and Resources * Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=podcast] * Crucial Learning - Working with Difficult People: How to Increase Understanding [https://cruciallearning.com/blog/working-with-difficult-people-how-to-increase-understanding/] * Strength Deployment Inventory Free Trial [https://cruciallearning.com/try-sdi?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Freemium&utm_campaign=SDI] Learn more about Brittney Maxfield here. [https://cruciallearning.com/blog/author/brittney-maxfield/] The Crucial Skills Podcast is brought to you by the authors and experts at Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/], home of Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue and Crucial Conversations for Accountability training.

The Accountability Difference | Building Teams That Make and Keep Commitments with Justin Hale

Accountability is one of the most talked-about topics in organizational culture, yet one of the least understood. We’re here to fix that. Justin Hale, coauthor of Crucial Accountability, makes the case that accountability isn't just a personality trait or a matter of willpower. It's a skill set that can be taught, practiced, and embedded into any team. Justin introduces the concept of 200% accountability and walks through the specific behaviors that separate high-performing cultures from ones where commitments frequently die out. He discusses why our brains are terrible at managing unfinished tasks, and introduces a practical framework for holding colleagues accountable without damaging relationships. Justin also shares a compelling case study from Union Square Hospitality Group, whose high employee retention traces back to one thing: how leaders behave when people mess up. Whether you're a manager trying to build a stronger team culture or an individual looking to become indispensable, this episode offers a look at what accountability actually requires. Chapters [Start] Introducing Justin Hale: Justin is introduced and frames the episode's focus on accountability. 02:20 The Case for 200% Accountability: The framework of 100% personal accountability plus 100% team accountability. 04:52 Individual Accountability and Following Through: Why the brain compounds tasks into stress and how to fix it. 12:30 Personal Accountability Skills: Two practical tools to beat procrastination and become more of a finisher. 19:09 Holding Others Accountable: A framework for closing performance gaps honestly and respectfully in team settings. Links and Resources * Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=podcast] * Crucial Conversations for Accountability Miniseries: How to Confront and Resolve Poor Performance and Bad Behavior [https://cruciallearning.com/courses/crucial-conversations-for-accountability/miniseries/] * Crucial Conversations ® for Accountability [https://cruciallearning.com/courses/crucial-conversations-for-accountability/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=ACC&utm_campaign=ACC] Learn more about Justin Hale here. [https://cruciallearning.com/blog/author/justin-hale/] The Crucial Skills Podcast is brought to you by the authors and experts at Crucial Learning [https://cruciallearning.com/], home of Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue and Crucial Conversations for Accountability training.