Conversations are the heartbeat of relationship-centred leadership. They’re how we build trust, foster clarity, and create the conditions for people to do their best work. This week, we introduce your 3 Core Conversations Model, starting with the first two:
In busy workplaces, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of chasing, reminding, or rescuing. But there’s another way. When you build a rhythm of consistent, meaningful conversations, you don’t need to chase performance—you co-create it.
Check-Ins are your relationship ritual. They aren’t performance reviews or micromanagement. They’re 20-minute conversations, held weekly or fortnightly, that help people feel seen, focused, and supported.
Coaching Conversations build on that foundation. They’re not about giving advice—they’re about getting curious. You’ll learn how to shift from problem-solver to thinking partner using a simple 3-step framework called ACT.
From chasing up to checking in.
🧠 Neuroscience Insight: Regular, rhythm-based Check-Ins reduce cognitive load, build psychological safety, and reinforce trust. Coaching-style questions activate the brain’s insight system leading to sustainable behaviour change.
It’s about:
🧭 Creating structure without micromanagement
💬 Asking more and telling less
🪴 Building trust, momentum, and autonomy through consistent conversations
Embed reflection, celebration, planning and growth as key skills to create impact.
This Week’s Experiment:
✅ Schedule a Check-In with each of your direct reports OR repurpose an existing 1:1 to serve as a Check-In.
Use the provided Check-In template (or your own version) as long as it includes these core sections:
✨ Stretch Experiment:
In one of your conversations, apply the ACT Coaching Framework:
Notice what shifts in the conversation when you ask instead of advise.
This reflection helps track your shift from reactive to ritualised leadership—and how that’s experienced by others.
