In any team or organization, formal and structured meetings are necessary - no doubt.  There has to be a documented system of communication for everyone to turn to if there are ever any questions about how, when, and what to communicate. However, being sucked into this type of rigid structure can have its own consequences, which can be detrimental to a team’s environment, productivity, creativity, and overall success. So how do we balance this? Today’s episode dives into this topic from both the perspective of a visionary CEO and the eyes of a day to day task and team manager.  More specifically, I cover: The skills we develop in the process of discussion (throughout) How to deconstruct a problem in a conversation (9:00) How collaborative learning promotes positive culture (13:00) How to respond when the conversation leaves you (or someone else) disheartened or disappointed (18:10)  Referenced Resources and Events: Speaker School -  This live 2 day experience not only gives you the knowledge you need to create a logical and clear presentation, but provides you with a safe environment to fail, one filled with people who want you to succeed, and are there to give you the feedback and encouragement you need to take steps forward.  Join us in BEAUTIFUL Phoenix, AZ on November 4th & 5th.  Early Bird discounts are only live until August 9, so save up to $200 and sign up today! Group Mentoring - Many of us can simply benefit from being around other people that we can run our ideas by, so that we can get them out of our heads and start leveraging strategies to get them out into the world. But we all run up against a wide range of roadblocks, whether they're financial, procedural (not knowing where to start or what to do next), psychological (such as impostor syndrome), or anything like that. And this is especially true if you're a bit of a perfectionist. This is why we started our coalition program, to help people who want to help others make more progress and scale their impact.  If this sounds familiar, take action and apply for our group mentoring program TODAY by filling out this form. 1:1 Mentoring: If group mentoring isn’t for you, good news - we also provide 1:1 Mentoring for anyone looking for someone to lean on, act as a devil’s advocate, or just run ideas and decisions by.  We have a wide variety of mentors in many different locations and walks of life available to provide you guidance and training specific to your needs.  Apply for our 1:1 Mentorship Program today, or reach out to us at [email protected], and we’ll get you moving in the right direction! Mighty Networks Digital Community: Our digital community where you can gain access to information, discussion, and a group of professionals (including the AoC Team) who are serious about their development.  For only $19.99/ month (free cancellation at any time) you can take your communication, leadership, and relationship skills to the next level.  Join us today! This is your LAST CHANCE to sign up for our Apprenticeship Workshop in Sioux Falls, SD on August 26th & 27th.  Hosted by our good friends at EmpowerU, The Apprenticeship is a highly interactive 2-day workshop for those looking to improve their ability to communicate, lead, and build strong relationships.  This isn’t a “rah-rah,” motivational, death by powerpoint seminar.  On the contrary, by attending, you’ll experience the practice, coaching, and feedback you need to truly grow.  And better yet, you’ll get to take home a quantifiable communication evaluation tool, as well as several other tools to help you strategically approach any conversation.  Sign up TODAY.  We’ll see you there!