I took up my new functions as Ombud at the beginning of May, after 35 years in various administrative support and advisory roles at CERN. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor in the role, Laure Esteveny, and to thank those who have recently called on my services for the trust they have placed in me.
I will take all the time needed to lend a sympathetic ear, to exchange ideas and to discuss possible ways of coping with whatever interpersonal problem, conflict or other issue they might be facing in the workplace. For example, I can help resolve interpersonal conflicts in situations where dialogue isn’t working or has broken down altogether.
And this leads me to the following thought – in today’s era of instantaneous communication, at any time and in any place, we’re losing the habit of speaking face to face. So when disagreements arise, we have trouble, on the one hand, expressing how we feel or knowing where to start and, on the other hand, hearing what the other is saying.
Discussion, debate, negotiation and information exchange are the most common forms of communication in an organisation, and are extremely useful tools from many points of view. But dialogue is probably the most effective means of comprehending and tackling especially complex or controversial subjects.
Learning – or relearning – the art of dialogue when the weather is set fair, with the aim of maintaining high-quality professional relations, is a good way of preparing ourselves to cope with stormy weather that might be on the horizon. Conflicts can thus be the catalyst for healthy change or improvements.
However, since good intentions alone are not always enough, here are three principles to guide you in the art of dialogue:
- Set aside time to discuss a subject of mutual interest, without an agenda, in a comfortable space and with the aim of creating a meaningful connection.
- Practice active listening, which means listening until the end and asking questions with friendly curiosity without preconceived ideas.
- Recognise the power of the spoken word – and of silence – during a discussion.
Dialogue is an art form that can sometimes require practice. Take inspiration from these three principles and see for yourself the positive changes they can bring about in your interpersonal relations and your ability to tackle tough situations.
Marie-Luce Falipou
_____
I would like to hear your reactions and suggestions – join the CERN Ombud Mattermost team at https://mattermost.web.cern.ch/cern-ombud/.
The Ombud is available from Monday to Friday in office B500/1-004 on the Meyrin site. To make an appointment, in person or online, contact the Ombud at ombuds@cern.ch.
More information can be found on the Ombud’s website: https://ombuds.web.cern.ch/fr