BULLSHIFT – Get more honesty and straight talk at work
The inability to talk straight and be open costs us time, energy, money and morale.
How much more effective could we be if our team members, customers, managers and suppliers were all able to be open with each other and talk straight?
This hilarious, interactive session explains the practical things we can do to shift the bull.
As a result, the participants may get the following outcomes:
1. Inspiration to commit to more professional, mature, robust relationships.
2. Genuine insight into why many people struggle to be open and talk straight.
3. Practical things they can do to be more open and honest themselves.
4. Practical things they can do to encourage others to be more open with them.
When teams practice the principles of BULLSHIFT, they report: more efficient meetings, quicker negotiations, more honest and useful performance appraisals, greater enthusiasm, better ability to accurately analyse problems and solve them, and so on.
Andrew’s book BULLSHIFT contains fourteen principles. He usually addresses seven in the presentation. The first is the most important and forms the basis for the rest of the work.
It is: Don’t be defensive / Be curious
Andrew uses his skills as a stand-up comic and expert facilitator to gently draw people’s attention to the many and varied defensive reactions that typically flare up whenever we receive critical feedback or hear things we don’t like. He then explains what is really going on beneath the surface – how the ego is protecting itself – and how to replace that defensiveness with curiosity. He calls on all to replace defensiveness with professional curiosity; to make it easier to have more robust, open, clear, professional, mature and critical conversations.
The other principles include:
• Don’t make excuses / Say what happened and take responsibility
• Don’t have an opinion if you don’t need one / Stay open
• Don’t express opinion as fact / Express opinion as opinion
• Don’t get too emotionally invested / Detach and reflect
• Don’t mutter / Speak up
Participants laugh and gasp as they see themselves and their workmates. They also see the folly of wasted energy and feel inspired to commit to more open, honest, professional dialogue.
BULLSHIFT is not more fluff in the already crowded market of corporate communication.
BULLSHIFT is a simple and powerful philosophy.
It’s provocative and simultaneously very practical – it can be applied instantly.
Most people can immediately see how they can improve their communication and feel inspired to make those changes.
The workshop may be hilarious and good fun but the message is long-lasting.
BULLSHIFT
14 Principles to get more honesty and straight talk at work.
“The positive feedback just keeps on coming. We are thrilled we decided to have you for the full day. Consensus is that it was extremely valuable and enjoyable on many levels and all agree that you are absolutely gifted as a presenter. I want to thank for being so easy to work with and for being so astute in your understanding of what we were after. Some of your moments were uncannily sharp.”
Wonthaggi Secondary College
“It was extremely useful in setting the tone for a four hour meeting that we expected to become a little hairy. However, the meeting went very well with some excellent outcomes. Thanks again and congratulations on your work at the conference.”
Australian Performing Arts Centres Association
“Three weeks have passed and I’m still thinking about your training session almost every day.”
Participant, Australian Federal Police Leadership Course
“Thank you for the PDF summaries. I’m preparing to stick them on my walls now. I love your books so much I want to buy everyone I know a copy for Christmas! Can you imagine the world if everyone took on board your suggestions!”
Wesfarmers
“The guys are talking about bits ‘n’ pieces that have arisen as a result of your sessions. It’s our intention to get agreement from everyone that we’ll adopt your communication philosophy
and we’ll use issuing the books as part of the process.”
Corruption and Crime Commission WA
WASSRA Conference Delegates responses below:
“I once again had the privilege of hearing you present and I have thoroughly enjoyed all your sessions. Your method of engaging your audience and making everything sound so straight forward and sensible is quite amazing.”
“I really enjoyed your presentations and now feel armed with the knowledge to better understand myself and the people I interact with. I am hoping to pass what I have learnt to my colleagues.”
“I am trying to put into practice principles that you talked about and look forward to the change in me and how it will improve my role. It was just the boost I needed!!”
“Andrew, I have never enjoyed myself so much like I did in your breakout session. Good luck with the rest of the work you are called to do.”
“I have been putting some of them into place – especially the one where if you don’t feel right about something actually go and address the person about how you feel instead of ‘grumbling away’. Cheers. You are a STAR.”
“I’m glad you have replied personally because that gives me the opportunity to thank you for being a bloody brilliant presenter (see no corporate talk here!) It’s just so refreshing to see someone who is so passionate about what they do.”
“It was certainly the highlight for me and gave me the most knowledge.”
“I just wanted to say a big thanks for a great and inspiring contribution. I came away with many tools that I am trying to put into place.”
NESA Conference Delegates responses below:
“Your workshop was both enjoyable and informing. The topic was extremely relevant to me and will continue to assist me in changing my communication particularly in the commitment to not making excuses, and not being defensive.”
“I have just had another enjoyable time discussing bullshift and the issue of truth in communication with our branch managers. A great way to beginning what was a 3 day planning session. People kept on analysing their comments and asking, Is that honest?”
“I found it very entertaining, interesting and enlightening. It made me look at communication and the things I say (as well as what others say) in a different way and what could really be said in a more honest way.”
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