Melody Wilding, LMSW, is a leading executive coach and professor of human behavior. She values forthright and transparent communication as an essential workplace commodity. With over a decade of experience in executive coaching, Wilding has helped numerous professionals navigate their careers effectively, offering strategies to manage upward relationships and excel in their roles. Her work focuses on the intersection of climate change and conflict. In her research, she’s found that leaders are extremely reluctant to advance people who are poor at managing conflict diplomatically.
Wilding is the author of “Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge,” available at managingup.com. This in-depth book is a boon for both men and women on how to build effective workplace connections and get promoted. In her articles for CNBC, Wilding addresses a lot of ground. She explores why some methods of persuasion can be more effective than others and how the use of toxic language can poison one’s career path.
In her discussions with leaders, Wilding discovered a common theme: many executives confess they are reluctant to promote individuals who cannot engage in conflict directly. This discovery highlights the need for experts to hone their craft of communication, especially with respect to managing difficult dialogues.
For instance, Wilding encourages state DOTs to write emails in plain language to promote internal clarity and avoid confusion. She advises against these passive-aggressive phrases, which can be a sign of someone who can’t confront conflict. Statements such as “Why are you avoiding giving me a response?” build conflict. In the same vein, “Can you explain the procedures to me?” can open the door for miscommunication. Rather than contributing to the discordant noise, she advises communicators to do a better job engaging in hopeful, collaborative dialogue.
To illustrate effective email communication, Wilding provides examples of phrases that can enhance clarity:
“The deadline is Friday at 5 p.m.”
Furthermore, Wilding’s guidance extends beyond email etiquette. She empowers professionals with tactics and templates specifically designed to help them get raises and promotion. With practice using these techniques, you can strengthen your skills and confidence in advocating for what you need from your managers.
“The choices are A, B, or C. Which would you prefer?”
Come to the live discussion to explore Wilding’s ideas further! It’s all part of the CNBC Make It Book Club, taking place Wednesday, October 1, at 10 a.m. ET. The working session will happen in a private LinkedIn group — interested readers should ask to join. This interactive virtual workshop will give participants the opportunity to learn directly from Wilding and get further tips on communicating effectively in today’s workplaces.
“Could you review this in the next 48 hours? Let me know if that’s feasible.”
In addition to being a clarion call for success, Wilding’s articles for CNBC tackle two poison-penned words that can kill professional rapport. Her focus lies on identifying and naming the power dynamics at play in professional communications. Just by shifting problematic language to preferences or choices, practitioners can reinforce a partnership-centric culture.
Wilding deeply honors and attends to her audience, inviting readers to contact her directly. Email your questions to askmakeit@cnbc.com, and make sure to include “Question for Melody Wilding” in the subject line. This new program gives creatives the chance to receive tailored, one-on-one guidance on overcoming common industry hurdles.
Readers interested in further exploring Wilding’s insights can participate in a live discussion as part of the CNBC Make It Book Club on Wednesday, October 1, at 10 a.m. ET. The session will take place in a LinkedIn group where readers can request access. This interactive platform will allow participants to engage directly with Wilding and gain additional insights into effective workplace communication.
In her articles for CNBC, Wilding also addresses two toxic words that can undermine professional relationships. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the language used in workplace interactions. By replacing negative terms with positive alternatives, professionals can foster a more collaborative environment.
To facilitate ongoing engagement with her audience, Wilding encourages readers to send questions via email to askmakeit@cnbc.com with the subject line “Question for Melody Wilding.” This initiative allows professionals to seek personalized advice on navigating workplace challenges.