Have you seen tone tactics bring a standing ovation of sorts to many different people where you work? It’s the quality crafted by people who welcome nuances, value opposing views, and transform broken systems into innovations at work.
It makes sense that if human brains rewire for new possibilities each time a person steps in the direction of solutions, that positive tone offers a gateway into multiple possibilities from high-performing minds. It doesn’t always happen though.
Poor tone, on the other hand, tends to marginalize many fine voices, and allows space for far fewer skills, to the detriment of performance. Research is shedding light on why some people tend toward poor tone, how tone skills improve mental dividends from wider differences, and why tone brings out multiple intelligences from all workers. 
Simply stated, tone mines exhilerating differences through communication of higher goals. How so?
1. Tone moves people to reflect on growth opportunities, as opposed to blaming others or engaging self-pity.
2. Tone looks beyond cyncism in favor of developing talents to communicate solutions.
3. Tone guides people to learn from opposing views on even the most controversial topics.
4. Tone can change like a chemeleon when people face stress, fight exhaustion, or fall ill.
5. Tone turns disagreement into growth opportunities with opponents.
6. Tone is the body language of online communication.
Test your tone in this brief survey, where each item relates to either effective or ineffective workplace tactics:
1. Do you speak and feel heard daily?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
2. Do you laugh with fellow workers?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
3. Do you avoid negative people during staff breaks?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
4. Do you refuse to take offense at work?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
5. Do you refrain from pointing out other’s mistakes?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
6. Have you resolved a key conflict at work in the last month?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
7. Do you propose doable solutions to problems you face?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
8. Would fellow workers see you as reflective?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
Do you remain calm in stressful situations?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
11. Do you prevent stressors from invading your workplace?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
12. Would others say that you value their offerings?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
13. Do you learn from people who disagree with you?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
14. When disagreements arise, do you avoid personal attacks?
a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
15. Do you welcome workers who differ widely from your views? a. Mostly _____
b. About 50% _____
c. About 25% _____
d. rarely _____
Scores are analyzed in the next post. Results will show where tone IQ is strongest and suggest where to grow tone skills in communication that work against your diverse assets.
To calculate your score from directions below, simply calculate a. _____ b. _____ c. _____ d. _____ responses scored. The next post highlights where scores likely land your firm as well as suggest how to turn diversity problems into organizational growth - through well developed tone tactics.
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