Hi John,

There are two things we want to bring your attention to today: Our new Leadership Academy, and a survey about interpersonal conflict.

The Leadership Academy is a robust library of leadership resources we’ve published in recent years—a masterclass, if you will—and includes expert sessions with Joseph Grenny, Emily Gregory, and others. It’s free, so be sure to check it out.

As for the survey, if you work on a team you’ve probably got perspective to share because, let’s face it, your work was going great until… other people. If that feels familiar, please tell us about it. We’re working on some exciting projects and your perspective is incredibly valuable in our research.

Finally, today’s article is an oldie but goodie from the late Kerry Patterson.
Begin Survey
Confessions of a Professional Trick-or-Treater
by Kerry Patterson

One crisp October day as I walked home from school with Rick Eherenfield (my grade-school best friend), he asked me a rather naïve question: “Would you like to go trick-or-treating with me next week?” What a rube! Didn’t he know anything about the finer art of extracting candy from strangers? First of all, it’s a huge mistake to go door-to-door with friends. When you travel with friends, you slow down as you talk.

Trick-or-treat rule number one: Don’t slow down for anything. During the precious few hours of the one night of the year when candy is free for the asking, chatting with a friend could cost you a chocolate candy bar—which, by the way, just happens to be your only reason for going out in the first place. (It’s all about the chocolate.) One Halloween, I sprinted by a house that was on fire and didn’t break stride. You think I’m going to go trick-or-treating with a friend?
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Dec 2–6

Crucial Conversations® for Mastering Dialogue

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There is a sort of friendship or solidarity that becomes possible at work when people are open about differences of rank, and there are clear standards.
 
—Matthew B. Crawford