Responsible Conversations

Why Responsible Conversation?

RPM proposes that project professionals facilitate the social endeavour of projects using new project management principles. Conversation is key to this facilitation process. Conversation is proposed responsible when parties involved enter into conversation with shared intentions for the conversation, with consideration given to who contributes, how the conversation is conducted and the purpose, agenda and boundaries. The aim is a shared philosophy for partnering in conversation.

Origins

In addition to the emergent development of RPM, the idea of Responsible Conversation is embedded in the soft skill framework proposed from Shirley Thompson’s coaching research showing that professional project managers develop soft skills after minimal coaching practice. The research arose from the literature gap in relation to how coaches benefit from their practice. The soft skills framework reflects and extends an understanding of coaching as the process of conversation (Bachkirova, Spence and Drake, 2016).

The soft skill framework (explained below) proposes individuals consider three foci of attention:

-          On self, recognising the workings of the mind and body

-          On others, through effective communication (which is dependent on effective relationships)

-          On intentions for relationships with others, which drive interpersonal behaviour

The power of this model becomes clear when individuals partner in conversation with recognition that all partners have these three foci. Then, shared intention can be negotiated.

 
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What is a Responsible Conversation?

A definition of Responsible Conversation is proposed as:

 

Partnering with stakeholders in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional responsibility.

 

This definition is modelled on the 2019 definition of coaching from the International Coaching Federation.

At RPM events - both physical and virtual - we aim to increasingly model Responsible Conversations where participants influence intention for the sessions.

Currently our events encourage participation and partnering to support project managers to broaden their belief in addressing people and planet issues as well as short-term benefits, such as traditional cost, time, quality.