Opening Doors

Judith H. Katz and Frederick A. Miller

About Opening Doors

Organizations are only as productive as the interactions that take place within them. How can we enhance these interactions - and so achieve higher performance? Through 4 Keys that change the nature and quality of every interaction. In Opening Doors, authors Katz and Miller describe how leaning into discomfort, listening as an ally, sharing intent and intensity, and sharing “street corners” can open doors to greater success for every individual, every group, every team, every initiative, every strategy, and the entire organization. The book also explores the one critical decision behind every interaction—Judging or Joining the other person—and how it can transform our ability to partner with others and do our best work together.

Excerpt

Higher performance? Quicker problem solving Faster and better decision making? Higher productivity? Transformative breakthroughs?

How often do the doors to collaboration and teamwork remain closed because people:

• don't feel safe to speak up?
• misunderstand each other's intent?
• don't want to hear different points of view?
• don't trust each other?

How can people open these doors to unleash the full potential of themselves, their teams, and their organizations?

4 Keys That Change Everything

We know this is a BIG statement. These 4 Keys do change every interaction. We have seen it. We have lived it. And yes, we understand why you might be skeptical.

We would doubt such a BIG claim, and we won't blame you if you doubt it too. But we have observed these keys at work in organizations all over the world. The Keys provide a common language that everyone can use. They are simple and powerful.

Key #1 Lean into Discomfort

Opens the Door to Trust

Opening this door feels like I am taking a risk, but if I want greater teamwork and collaboration, I need to Lean into the Discomfort I feel in order to get to know you better. How else can we work together? How else can we solve problems and eliminate confusion and wasted effort?

When I Lean into Discomfort I help make it safer to be honest and open with you. As I feel safer, and you feel safer, we can open the door to trust. Unless I am willing to Lean into Discomfort, the door to those possibilities and potential will remain closed.

Key #2 Listen as an Ally

Opens the Door to Collaboration

When I Listen as an Ally, it enables me to hear what you, my team members, and colleagues, are saying, and for all of us to build on each other's ideas.

Slowing down to really hear you is the key that unlocks the door to collaboration, which results in the faster achievement of our goals.

Key #3 State your Intent and Intensity

Opens the Door to Understanding

When you State Your Intent and Intensity, it helps me, my team members, and my colleagues take the guesswork out of suggestions or directions and opens the door to greater understanding of each other. Stating my Intent and Intensity does the same for you.

As the door to understanding is opened, I see how to contribute more quickly, confidently, and decisively. When I know how best to contribute, I know how to add value; and if you do the same, we can each add greater value. And this combined greater value results in our saving time as we achieve Right First Time interactions.

Key #4 Share Street Corner

Opens the Door to Breakthroughs

When you Share Your Street Corner and I share mine, we learn to hear differences as contributions, rather than as sources of conflict. As we share our different perspectives, we can see the fuller 360-degree view, use our combined resources, and achieve breakthroughs none of us could have envisioned or accomplished alone.