Welcome to this unit on creating a safe space for open and honest conversations during 1-1 meetings. Mastering these skills will help you foster a trusting and supportive environment, enabling your team members to freely discuss their concerns, ideas, and aspirations.

Giving your full attention to the speaker and validating their feelings is crucial. This involves confirming what you've heard and acknowledging the emotions expressed. For example, instead of saying, "Okay, let's move on," try, "I hear that you're feeling stressed about the current project deadlines." This not only shows that you are listening but also that you genuinely care about how they feel.

Connecting emotionally with the other person goes beyond just listening. Use empathetic language to show understanding and care. Rather than saying, "That's not a big deal," you could respond with, "I can see why that situation would make you feel frustrated." This approach helps in building an emotional connection and demonstrates that you value their perspective.

After acknowledging and empathizing with your team member's feelings, guide the conversation towards finding solutions collaboratively. Instead of taking over with, "Here's what you need to do," you might say, "What do you think would be a helpful next step?" This empowers the team member and encourages a more cooperative problem-solving approach.

• Jake: Hey Natalie, I noticed that you've seemed a bit stressed out lately. Is everything alright?
• Natalie: Yeah, there's just been a lot going on with this new project and I'm feeling overwhelmed.
• Jake: I hear you. It's a big project and it can be a lot to handle. What specifically is making it overwhelming for you?
• Natalie: I think it's the tight deadlines and the volume of tasks. I'm not sure how to manage everything.
• Jake: That sounds really tough. I can see why you'd feel that way. What do you think would help in managing these tasks better?

This short dialogue illustrates Jake actively listening and validating Natalie's feelings, responding with empathy, and moving towards finding a solution together.

By mastering these practices, you will create a safe and supportive space for meaningful conversations, fostering stronger connections and trust within your team. Up next are engaging role-play sessions to help you practice these skills in realistic scenarios.