1. For Focused Conversations LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD

2. Welcome to Leveling the Playing Field!  You are now in a module that will develop your ability conduct powerful conversations.  Conversational effectiveness improves by strengthening the fundamental competencies that lead to mutual understanding and agreement.  This allows you to move mutually beneficial agendas further, faster with fewer mistakes. Leveling The Playing Field Benefits: Less frustration More focused conversations

3. By the End of the Course Learners will be able to:  Identify the purpose, process, and time needed for the conversation  Gain agreement before the conversation starts so that all parties involved are anticipating the same conversational parameters  Write out a statement that will Level the Playing Field for the conversation, incorporating all three parameters. Objectives

4. Leveling the Playing Field Today’s practice session is Leveling the Playing Field, which is a communication tool that allows you to effectively frame a conversation and to gain agreement on:... questions surrounding the discussion LPF Introduction

5.  By the end of the lesson, you will plan ahead for a conversation in regard to time, process and purpose of the conversation.  Skill with this tool dispels concerns, encourages thoughts, and addresses potentially distracting unspoken questions so that parties involved in the conversation are free to focus on the content. Measurable Competency The LPF helps you gain agreement before the conversation starts so that all parties involved are anticipating the same conversational parameters. The measurable competency covered in this session is to Level the Playing Field for 3 critical conversations

6.  Have some basic LPF statements ready to work on in the session for three scenarios.  Try to choose either critical conversations that you have coming up, or an important conversation that you may have on a regular basis. Planning Ahead... The Open Gym session will focus on refining and practicing your LPF statements.

7. Or does it behoove everyone to take a few minutes to make sure that the table is set for success before the meal even begins. Brain Food Imagine setting a table before a meal. Does the meal flow as smoothly if you are constantly getting up to get napkins or forks or spoons?

8. Framing Conversations LPF should not be thought of as a simple introduction, but rather a tool that fosters conversational success.

9. LPF as a Tool  The use of this tool will drastically improve your ability to hold a captive audience by addressing any concerns or lingering thoughts that may distract the person(s) to whom you are speaking.  Your conversations will be more focused due to this initial framework on which you may always fall back if a tangent tears you away. LPF involves the steps you take to make sure the conversation goes smoothly and successfully. You will distinguish yourself as a person with a purpose and plan, a person who knows where they are going!

10. Purpose

11. Process

12. Time

13. Think about conversations that you typically have with your customers. Choose 3 topics that you would like to work with for the practice session. Before coming to The Gym: Click the blue link above to print and complete LPF Worksheet and bring it to the practice session with you. Before coming to The Gym: Click the blue link above to print and complete LPF Worksheet and bring it to the practice session with you. Preparing for the In-Class Session:

14. Practice Regimen Practice using your LPF statements several times a day.