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Friday, November 13, 2015 - 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Summit Keynote
SMT3

You Said WHAT?

Most of us take language for granted. We use words without thinking about how they may affect others, and then we’re surprised at the reaction we get. In an interactive format, Doc List presents a challenge to identify loaded words in seemingly simple statements and questions. For instance, “Why didn’t you write the executive summary?” is quite different from “I thought you were going to write the executive summary.” One is a challenge or criticism; the other is a statement of what’s on your mind. Based on education and years of interacting with and observing people, Doc understands the importance of being more aware of the words we choose, the impact those words may have, and the importance of language in building and maintaining high-performing teams and organizations. Join Doc to gain a new understanding of the subtle—and sometimes not so subtle—differences between what we think we’re saying, what we mean to say, and what might be heard. Doc then explores some techniques to help us be clearer in what we say, how we say it—and how we can resolve the differences. Expect to engage in discussion and reflection as part of the activity, gaining greater insight into the use of language, and how language affects interactions and teams.

Doc List
Doc List, Doc List Enterprises

Doc List has spent much of his thirty-five years in the software development community in leadership and coaching roles. Doc’s education in clinical and industrial/organizational psychology has contributed to his understanding of language and interaction between people. Roles as agile coach, facilitator, and trainer have brought the importance of language and interaction into finer focus, as has his blog at doclist.me. Doc's experience as a leader, trainer, coach, presenter, facilitator, and professional speaker blends into an unusual appreciation for and mastery of the subtlety of spoken and written language, as well as the power of human interaction in various forms.

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