Boss

How to Simplify the Work Process and Enjoy More Personal Time

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KeyFinding time to pursue interests outside of work is important. Keeping your team on track and productive is also important. When you simplify and structure your work process, you and your team will have more time to pursue personal interests. (Also, it makes for happier employees!)

Five Keys to Simplify and Structure

Clarify Goal, Purpose, and Actions. Clarity about the goal and purpose of a project, task, or interaction will speed up achieving the results. Also, don’t forget to include any limitations mandated by the customer or boss. Work with your team to brainstorm a strategy and create a focused-action plan and checklist. Then, manage the team to ensure focused-action is being taken. Quickly address overlooked items and obstacles. Do not procrastinate on this.

Write It Down. Written goals and focused-action plans move ideas out of people’s heads and onto paper. These critical processes will get everyone on the same page and make it easier to see what is missing. It also limits distractions or side activities that detract from achieving the goal. Use a written timeline as a checklist to determine the progress you and your team are making. Writing it down gives you more personal time.

Communication. Communicate with the team on a frequent basis. Use team meetings, 1:1 meetings, emails, and electronic messaging to keep everyone up-to-date. Don’t forget to include brags about each and every team member’s achievements.

Delegate. Know the strengths of each team member, including yours. For example, if someone is great at cost analysis, use him or her to create the ROI. Provide cross-training whenever possible. It builds a resilient team when mistakes or the unexpected happens.

Integrity. The most important key is to do what you say you will do by when you say you will do it. (This sentence is worth reading again!) When something happens that is not in your plan, immediately get in communication to resolve it. Remember, your team is following your lead!

These five keys will not only allow for a high level of productivity, they will also provide you and your team time to pursue personal interests.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2019

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. She has helped 1,000s of people create more fun, money, and inspiring results. To learn more about building a productive and resilient team while gaining more personal time, contact Jeannette for straight talk with dynamic results.

To receive our keys to your success, sign up to receive our weekly newsletter. When you register, you will receive FREE “How to Select the Best Coach for You!”

How to Win and Blast Past Procrastination

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procrastination“Procrastinating today will limit tomorrow’s opportunities.” Jeannette Seibly

Everyone has ideas, thoughts, and plans they would love to achieve. They dream and visualize the results and outcomes. Yet, they don’t take action. Instead, they use excuses and blame procrastination, creating a no-win game!

Why do we procrastinate? The reality is, it doesn’t matter because we all have 100’s of reasons why.

Procrastination is a common phenomenon that you create!

The good news is, you create procrastination, so you can win by blasting past it.

Start by asking yourself these two questions:

  • What would happen if I took action today?
  • How will this support me in one month, one quarter, or one year?

Take Action Today!

Write it down. Knowing what you really really really want is important. Writing it down makes it real!

Recently I worked with a woman who had retired to pursue her dream of becoming a best-selling author. We completed her past accomplishments and created her goal. But, during the process, she shared her true dream of travel. Her fear was she couldn’t afford it. She had stopped believing in her ability to have her dream come true. The first step, she wrote down her true goal and blasted past procrastination.

Be Clear. Once, you’re clear about your true dream, it’s time to write. At the top of a clean sheet of paper, write down the real goal. At the bottom of that page, write down where you are now. Your fears and excuses will come up, procrastination will take over. It may feel like looking up the side of a steep daunting mountainside. To blast past procrastination, successful climbers know to focus on one step at a time.

Breathe and Move Forward! Once you take your first step, you are on your way. Your fear of failure, success or anything else will naturally fall by the wayside as you take one step at a time. Remember, avoid engaging in the “someday, maybe” syndrome that will sabotage you. And, remember, keep breathing as you move forward today in pursuit of your goal.

Honor Your Commitment. Focused action steps speak louder than whatever you tell yourself and others. It’s a step by step process, not a sprint to the goal line. (Think, climbing a mountainside.) Create a focused action plan. Write the milestones on the sheet of paper with your goal to track your progress. Whenever, you feel procrastination beckoning (and, it will), review your progress. Create brags and post them on your mirror. These reminders will fuel more progress and keep you committed.

Talk It Out. When procrastination hits and you get distracted by the shiny object syndrome or run into avoidable problems, talk it out. Hire a coach to guide you through the process. Hire an accountant to create a realistic return on investment (real numbers, not fantasy ones will keep you in action). Find mentors that can provide contacts and insights about your idea or project (use a Non-Disclosure Agreement). Remember, talking it out will provide the critical thinking required to achieve your goal!

Celebrate. Celebrate each and every step and accomplishment. Update your “brags.” As you move forward, notice how other areas of your life expand. Celebrate them too!

Remember, procrastinating today will limit tomorrow’s opportunities.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2019

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. She has helped 1,000s of people create more fun, money, and inspiring results. To learn more about kicking procrastinations butt, contact Jeannette for straight talk with dynamic results.

To receive our keys to your success, sign up to receive our weekly newsletter. When you register, you will receive FREE “How to Select the Best Coach for You!”

 

Leaders Need to Build Trust to be Successful

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Listen.2Many leaders grapple with building trust. Yet, trust is critical in today’s ever-changing workplace. If employees or customers don’t trust you to take care of them, they will leave and find someone who will.

Employees and customers won’t trust you if you:

  • -Are unable to communicate in a positive and caring manner
  • -Find fault with others’ concerns and ideas
  • -Make decisions based on how you feel
  • -Fail to honor your commitments

If you are a leader that fails to consider others, you are training others not to trust you to do the right things the right way.

It’s important to understand that trust begins with you.

Trust starts with an awareness of how you ask questions, make your decisions, and honor your commitments.

Remember, trust is a building process with others that requires your daily attention.

Build Trust Each and Every Day

Be Present. When you multi-task or allow other distractions, you stop being present and hearing what is said. Active listening is crucial toward building trust. The quality of questions you ask and the decisions you make as a result of these interactions will build trust, or diminish it.

Honor Facts and Intuition. Intuition can be wrong due to your biases and other feelings that limit objectivity. But, 100 percent reliance on data can send you down the wrong path too. Remember, 90 percent of the world’s information is not on the internet, but, in people’s heads on how to make things work. Trust the process of building alignment from team members. Listen to a select few business advisors (too many will only create indecision). Yes, the process may take longer, but, trusting the process will save you a lot of time and money in the future.

Integrity. Honoring your word (whether you remember giving it or not) not only allows you to trust yourself it encourages others to trust you too. Be present and actively take part in conversations.  Always take time to complete conversations by asking, “To be sure I’m clear, what do you need for me to do?”

Successful leaders are open to building trust daily. When you practice being present, honoring facts and intuition, and honoring your word, the results will amaze you.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2019

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. She has helped 1,000s of people create more fun, money, and inspiring results. To learn more about building trust, contact Jeannette for straight talk with dynamic results.

To receive our ongoing keys to your success, sign up to receive our weekly newsletter. When you register, you will receive FREE “How to Select the Best Coach for You!”

I Want My Success Now!

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success.now.future.leaderDo you have the potential for becoming wildly successful? But, feel your success is elusive? You believe it’s not happening fast enough?

Just because you want your success now, doesn’t mean you’re ready for it.

Many potentially successful employees hurt their career opportunities when they:

  • -Are promoted or advanced too quickly
  • -Don’t have the resilience to learn from mistakes
  • -Fail to take the initiative to hire the right coach and mentor
  • -Lack awareness of the impact on others
  • -Rely only on themselves and don’t build a strong network
  • -Focus solely on the potential paycheck

“Yes, I want to have a bigger home, car, and bank account, but, I want to enjoy the process of getting there.” A Long-time Successful Business Owner

Pursuing a successful career is admirable. But, if you want to be happy and enjoy the process, there are three keys to success that you cannot overlook.

Three Timeless Keys for Faster Success

1.Hire the Right Mentor and Right Coach. Select a mentor from your company, profession and/or industry. The right mentor accelerates the learning process and guides you in building stronger relationships. Hire the right external coach. This person will confidentially talk you through upsets and build solutions for faster success.

2.Job Fit Assessments. Job fit is the number one reason people are successful (Harvard Business Review)! Sadly, many professionals pursue occupations they believe will make them the most money and make them happy. But, poor job fit doesn’t build a strong financial future or make you happy. Also, it can hurt your self-esteem and ability to bounce back after failure.  Clarify job fit by using a scientifically validated job fit assessment. Review the results with your mentor and coach. Focusing on the right job and career path now will speed up your success.

3.Stand-up and Speak-up. Raise your hand and volunteer for new experiences. Learn how to share your ideas.

Use opportunities to learn and grow. Raise your hand and:

  • -Be on a nonprofit board
  • -Participate in a cross-department company project
  • -Volunteer for a humanitarian interest group

And, develop your skills for success by:

  • -Listening more than talk
  • -Doing what you say you’ll do
  • -Influencing new ideas
  • -Appreciating others’ efforts

Remember, developing these three key success factors will help boost your success faster.

©Jeannette L. Seibly, 2019

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. She has helped 1,000s of people create more fun, money, success, and inspiring results. Contact Jeannette for straight talk with dynamic results.

To receive our ongoing keys to your success, sign up to receive our weekly newsletter. When you register, you will receive FREE “How to Select the Best Coach for You!”

How to Manage Your Emotions as a Leader

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emotions.leader

“Leadership requires taking responsibility for your feelings and reactions towards others. A momentary lapse can create a permanent impact.” Jeannette Seibly

 

Have you ever struggled with your emotions?

It can happen when:

  • -Employees don’t agree or have an emotional reaction towards you.
  • -You’ve had a meltdown after a bad meeting.
  • -You’re worried about the outcome of a project or the fear of being embarrassed.

Every leader has experienced these emotions. Successful leaders have learned how to effectively handle these emotions during difficult times.

“Emotions have power and that power can enhance or limit your leadership.” Unknown

Broaden Your POV

Improve your decisions...consider all the data. Employees will react when they don’t believe you’ve made the right decisions. Get all the facts. Instead of becoming defensive, understand “why.” Ask them, “What would you do to improve this decision?” Remember, your ability to make good objective decisions will address the facts and people’s concerns.

There will always be disagreements…it’s not personal. When employees disagree with you, lashing out in response or retaliation is not a good idea. Remember, other’s emotional reactions are not about you. To overcome upsets, use persuasive listening skills to clarify and build alignment for a new outcome. With a broader POV, you will stop taking sides regardless of your opinions.

People will challenge you…address quickly. Many take part in rumors or gossip without considering the impact on others. Normally, it’s due to feelings of insecurity and disempowerment, and/or hating their jobs and bosses. Often, it’s because they want your attention. Be aware that the perpetrators often turn into victims. If you don’t address the issues now, they will grow from small molehills into giant mountains!

Productive employees do not happen by accident…focus on employees first.  It’s up to you to create a healthy and happy workplace. Review coaching, managing and training programs to ensure they support employee success. Design benefit programs to provide for counseling, health, and wellness. Update your hiring and selection process to focus on job fit (the #1 reason people are successful in their jobs!).

Acknowledge your emotions…then, address them appropriately. Being a leader can be a lonely job. Hire a coach to confidentially share concerns and address issues in an effective manner. Also, engage in conversations with others. Stop talking at them. These simple actions will improve your relationships, remove biases, and help you develop compassion. Remember, you have a choice in the words you use to express your feelings.

Take responsibility for your emotions, expand your POV, and become a successful leader.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2019

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. She has helped 1,000s of people create more fun, money, and inspiring results. Contact Jeannette for straight talk with dynamic results.

For weekly keys to your success, sign up to receive this weekly newsletter. When you register, you will receive FREE “How to Select the Best Coach for You!”

These Will Determine Your Success for 2019 and Beyond

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SuccessI predict the skills that will be most in-demand in the future will be some of the hardest to train – resilience, resourcefulness, and flexibility. (Dr. Thomas Frey, DaVinci Institute, September 2018)

When reading the above prediction, many bosses, executives and leaders automatically think about how to train, hire, manage and coach their employees for these skills. But, it’s critical to remember… success starts with you!

Resilience: It’s important to expand and bring added value to your employees, customers, and company. Mistakes will be made along the way. Resilient leaders learn from them and move on. Otherwise, you become less effective and myopic in your POV.

Successful practices include:

  • -Delegating to and coaching others
  • -Listening to and using new ideas
  • -Utilizing critical thinking (e.g., ROI, strategy, impactfulness)
  • -Bouncing back from mistakes and errors
  • -Improving interactions and relationships

     Success Tip: What training and coaching do you need to expand your POV? Schedule it now.

Resourcefulness: Question whether or not you are doing the right things the best way for win-win-win outcomes. Being aware and taking initiatives to achieve successful results!

When working on projects for successful start and implementation:

     Success Tip: What do you need to develop real strategies that work? One idea is to bounce your         ideas off of a trusted business advisor.

Flexibility: When you are stubborn or believe how things “should” happen, you get in the way of success. Learn how to adjust for necessary changes and when to do so.

Successful change agents know:

  • -Be clear of the vision and mission of the company
  • -Make changes with integrity and honesty, which may not be the fastest or easiest way
  • -Stay in communication during the change process

     Success Tip: How can you embrace change to grow your employees, customers, and company?        Hire the right coach for you and your team!

©Jeannette Seibly, 2019

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. She has helped 1,000s of people create more fun, money, and inspiring success. Contact Jeannette for straight talk with dynamic results.

How You Can Avoid Being Ghosted

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Ghosted.work.2Many experienced business professionals were ghosted last year. It seems to be the tread for employees and other business professionals to avoid having important conversations.

What is ghosting?

Ghosting is now so prevalent that many use this behavior to avoid having conversations or saying “no.” They fear disappointing others. Also, it’s their way to avoid confrontations. They believe it’s easier to “ghost” than say, “no” or “I’m unhappy” or “I got a better job offer” or “I don’t agree.”

Most fail to realize the consequences of not having these important conversations. They use ghosting to experience a momentary feeling of relief or a surge of personal power. But, it never lasts. Ghosting can irrevocably hurt a person’s reputation because we don’t forget.

Encourage Open Conversations to Decrease Ghosting

Verbal Communication. Today, many employees need help with their communication abilities. Workshops and podcasts teach participants how to listen, ask questions, and engage voice-to-voice. Remember, texting and social media are not the same as actually talking to another human being.

Soft Skills Training. Training is crucial to build a resilient team. Teach them how to have tough conversations, make requests, and share concerns instead of ghosting. Create win-win outcomes to turn around poor performance. These are important, trainable, and learnable skills. As a boss, make it easy for others to share their ideas and frustrations with you. Remember, it’s better to know the issues up-front and work through them than to wait until you’re ghosted (than, it’s too late).

Emotional Intelligence. Many people today expect to be happy in work and jobs. They don’t understand that the grass is rarely greener elsewhere. They expect their job, boss, and company to become their happy-place. They forget happiness is an inside job, not provided by someone else. As the boss, encourage your employees explore other interests outside of work (e.g., gardening, writing a book, side gigs, etc.). Also, encourage them to become key employees within their workgroups as a way of improving life and job satisfaction.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2019

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. She has helped 1,000s of people create more fun, money, and inspiring results. Contact Jeannette for straight talk with dynamic results.

 

Are You Ready for an Amazing Future?

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Future.ReadyWith 2019 beckoning, are you ready to create an amazing future?

Start with focusing on what will support all areas of your life. Review your job, relationships, finances, personal pursuits, and other matters in your life. What needs improvement?

Remember, what you do today will impact the quality of your future opportunities.

Take Responsibility Now to Impact Your Future

Clarity.  Take time to know yourself and what your goals and values are. Write them down. Know they can change over time. Remember, success is an inside job. Broaden your focus beyond more money, bigger homes, or other material items. These won’t make you a happier person. Instead, make a commitment to honor what is most important to you, your family and your business.

Career Fitness. Job fit is still the #1 reason (Harvard Business Review) people succeed in their jobs. Do you fit your job? 70 percent would say “no.” Focus on building your strengths and be aware of the impact your strengths have on attracting new opportunities to grow.

Right Coach. The right coach helps you focus on what is most important. The right coach helps you achieve your goals faster and easier. Plus, along the way, you’ll make more money, have more fun, and enjoy unprecedented results too!

Get Your Brag On. Self-promotion is important today. It helps you differentiate your skills, education, and experience from others. Brag savvy awareness provides pay increases, promotions, and opportunities you deserve.

Appreciation. Speak up and share the value and efforts of others!  Say please and thank you.  Apologize for mistakes. Acknowledge each person’s efforts. These are simple examples of how to bring out the best in you and others. The rewards are amazing!

©Jeannette Seibly, 2018

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. She has helped 1,000s of people create more fun, money, and inspiring results. Contact Jeannette for straight talk with dynamic results.

How to Provide Effective Feedback and Coaching

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Feedback.CoachingA sales rep believed she was doing a great job because she hit her sales quota every quarter. However, her boss saw it differently. He believed she overreacted in situations. He blamed her for asking too many questions and not getting along with team members. Instead of giving her effective feedback and coaching, he let her go when sales hit an all-time low.

After she was fired from her next job, she hired a coach. They talked through the issues and she took a job fit assessment to learn more about herself and how to better manage her strengths and weaknesses. She learned that her communication style got in the way of her success, and how to resolve disagreements for win-win outcomes. She also learned how to stand up and speak up for herself when blamed. Now, she was ready for her next job.

Her newest boss was unafraid to talk straight and manage the dynamics of the whole team. Each team member was expected to respect one another and resolve conflicts in a win-win manner. This new boss was great at providing her with immediate feedback and laser-like coaching. As a result, she and her team members each excelled. They surpassed their team’s sales quota each quarter.

When bosses fail to provide effective feedback and coaching, employees fail to improve.

Providing effective feedback and coaching to teams can be tough…receiving it can be tougher. No one likes to hear they are doing their job wrong, even when are. Plus, everyone fails when bosses allow drama, gossip, and emotional meltdowns to get in the way of providing feedback and coaching. Even worse, when bosses wait…conflicts increase and customer satisfaction scores plummet.

As a boss, it’s important for you to remember some emotional reactions are normal during any feedback and coaching session. Instead of interrupting the conversation and failing to provide the needed insights, have a box of tissues handy. It’s your responsibility to set the expectations for your teams. And, it’s up to you to provide immediate feedback and laser-like coaching so each person can succeed.

6 Tips for Effective Feedback and Coaching

Talk Straight. It’s up to you to talk straight. Don’t let eye daggers, hand gestures, or inappropriate comments will get in the way of building a good team.

Be a Role-Model.  To encourage openness and honesty, you must be open and honest. Take responsibility for your actions and words. When you make a mistake, own it. Apologies work wonders. Guide your employees to do the same.

Practice Tough Conversations. Role-play with your coach before having tough conversations. Use mirror work to help you become more comfortable with delivering bad news. If you don’t sincerely want the person to succeed, you are not ready to talk with them. Keep practicing.

Get Real. Many employees want constructive feedback. And, would love to have a coach to help guide them! As their boss, get real and take responsibility for providing laser-like coaching and effective feedback.

Ensure Job Fit. Over 70 percent of employees don’t fit their jobs (Gallup). This leads to employee and boss frustration, unproductive work habits, and poor communication styles. In other words, job fit impacts everyone. When you use scientifically validated job fit assessments, you will get answers as to why employees excel and why they do not. These tools will give you what you need to provide effective feedback and laser-like coaching.

Create a Learning Environment. A well-designed learning environment creates more openness for feedback and coaching. Create micro-learning opportunities to develop technical and soft skills. Don’t forget to include sessions on moral responsibility, integrity, and honesty so everyone understands that every choice and decision has a benefit and a consequence.

When you make effective feedback and coaching a priority, your team’s results will skyrocket.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2018

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. As an executive coach, speaker, and author, she provides straight talk with dynamic results. Improve your team’s results by learning how to provide effective feedback and laser-like coaching for each person’s success. Contact Jeannette for a preliminary confidential conversation.

How to Make Your Team’s Dynamics Successful

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Culture 2“Creating positive team dynamics is a skill that can be learned.” Jeannette Seibly

Team dynamics will make or break any group. As a boss and leader, it’s important to learn how to manage work teams, projects, and boards to be effective. What you don’t know can sabotage you, sabotage your team members and sabotage your project. The key is to act quickly and objectively when team dynamics go off-track.

Over the past several decades, I have coached teams and leaders in managing 100’s of projects. Most were successful. Some were not. This article focuses on six key elements that make or break your team’s dynamics.

A sales team met as a group twice a month. There were members that took the time to develop good working relationships with each other. And, there were those whose excuse was they were too busy. When several team members began criticizing a top producer, many took sides without first getting the facts. Unfortunately, the VP of Sales failed to step in and resolve the issue. When the top producer left, so did several others. It didn’t stop the backstabbing. Sales plummeted. Finally, the CEO hired a business advisor to work with the new VP of Sales and remaining team members. They had a candid come-down-to-reality conversation and set up ongoing coaching sessions to stop the bad behaviors. As a result, their team dynamics improved…and so did their sales!   

The 6 Key Elements to Understand Group and Team Dynamics

The Basics. Establish the basic rules and guidelines so everyone can freely participate. Remember, whatever you set up, everyone will forget and need to be reminded.

Effective Meetings. Training your team on how to conduct an effective meeting is paramount. Bring in an outside consultant to provide annual training to get everyone on the same page. Don’t forget to include soft skills training (e.g., conflict resolution, building agreement, persuasive listening, etc.).  Note: High-performance teams have a coach available for objective review and input. It saves them time, money and eruptions from frustrated team members.

Lead by Example. Issues arise any time there are two or more people involved! When they occur, address them quickly and objectively. First, objectively review options and goals with your coach. That process will remove emotional barriers and create better decisions. Role-play difficult conversations and focus on win-win outcomes for everyone, not blame.

Deep Dive. When issues arise (and they always do), start with the following questions to focus on the issue.

  • -Did I handle the logistics appropriately (e.g., Is everyone receiving group notifications? Was the room or electronic conference setup before the start time? Did the meeting start and end on time. Etc.).
  • -Am I actively listening or multitasking by handling my electronic messages?
  • -Do I encourage new ideas or am I shutting them down prematurely?
  • -Am I addressing issues as they arise or hoping they will go away on their own?
  • -Am I encouraging team members to work through their differences or taking sides?
  • -Do I come prepared for the meeting?
  • -How did I do to prepare others for the meeting?

No Saboteurs Allowed. Be proactive when gossip, backstabbing, and other nefarious activities occur. Otherwise, the damage is already done by waiting too long. First, immediately talk with your coach to avoid creating a bigger issue. Then, use candid come-down-to-reality conversations to clean-up and create powerful team dynamics.

Acknowledge and Celebrate. Practice appreciation and acknowledgment of group members on a daily basis. Good team dynamics occur when you learn about each other’s activities and successes. Complete the exercise of what worked and didn’t work. Do this weekly, monthly and/or quarterly for best results.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2018

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. As an executive coach, speaker, and author, she provides straight talk with dynamic results. Improve your team’s results by championing positive and effective team dynamics. Contact Jeannette for a preliminary confidential conversation.