If you've ever been in a conversation at work where you could feel a gap and had no idea how to close it, this episode is for you. Bridge communication isn't about giving in or making everything comfortable. It's about having the language and tools to build bridges (sometimes one plank at a time) between feelings, perspectives, and intentions. In this episode, we cover seven communication bridges and how to build them, including sample language you can use if you find yourself on one shore while others seem to be on another!
Bridge 1: Emotion → Constructive Response — From feeling it to doing something useful with it
Example: "There's a lot of energy in this conversation right now, and I think it might help if we name how we’re both feeling before we try to problem-solve."
Bridge 2: My Perspective → Their Perspective — From being right to being curious
Example: "I feel like we're looking at the same situation pretty differently. I don't want to just talk past each other. Can you help me understand what you're seeing that I might be missing?"
Bridge 3: Hard Truth → Trusted Relationship — From unfiltered honesty to honesty they can hear
Example: "I'm telling you this because I respect you and I genuinely want you to succeed here. What I need you to hear is ___."
Bridge 4: Ambiguity → Enough Clarity to Move — From "we don't know yet" to "here's what we do know"
Example: "I know this feels uncertain, and I want to be honest with you about where we are. What I know is [X]. What I don't know yet is [Y]. While we wait for more clarity, here's what I need us to focus on: [Z]."
Bridge 5: Individual Need → Team Good — From "what this person needs" to "what we all need"
Example: "I want to honor what you need here, and I also have to think about what's fair and sustainable for the whole team. Here's how I'm trying to hold both: ___."
Bridge 6: Intent → Impact — From "that's not what I meant" to "I understand what it did"
Example: "I'm realizing my intention and the impact were really different here, and the impact is what matters right now. I'm sorry that it landed that way. Can we talk about it?"
Bridge 7: Silence → Speech — From what's true to what gets said out loud
Example: "I've been noticing some tension on the team and I'd rather surface it than pretend it isn't there. Can we talk about what's going on?"
Learning how to build these bridges helps enhance communication in teams, transitioning from emotions to constructive actions, understanding differing perspectives, and fostering collaborative environments. By actively working to close these gaps, leaders can build stronger connections and navigate challenges more effectively!!
Follow-Up Resources
- Our Weekly-ish Newsletter
- On-Demand Coaching (15-minutes to 2-hours)
- Conflict Competence Skills Inventory
- Feedback Preparation Template
And if you need help with any of this, I'm here! Reach out to [email protected] or book a connection call!
ChatGMB: Wisdom & Insights for Modern Leaders is produced for leaders, managers, and changemakers seeking insight, tools, perspective, and real talk on topics such as human-centered leadership, team culture, conflict transformation, burnout prevention, and more. There is no fancy editing or over-polished scripting. Tune in to hear me in all my imperfection, talking for as long as it feels "right" on the topics that light me up or set me on fire.
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ChatGMB is a production of Reloveution, a consulting and professional development services provider that leverages the magic of humanity to strengthen teams, deepen leadership impact, and catalyze professional well-being. From facilitating team retreats to leading leadership development programs to robust advisory services, we help you build the emotional and cultural conditions for human thriving AND exemplary business outcomes. Learn more at www.truereloveution.com
You might also be interested in our focused conflict transformation practice RepairWorks. When tension rises, communication breaks down, or trust is broken, RepairWorks provides mediation, facilitated dialogue, advisory services, and training to help individuals, workplaces, teams, and established communities move through and transform conflict with clarity, accountability, and humanity. Learn more at www.conflictrepairworks.com
About the Show
GMB stands for “the Great Marissa Badgley” — a nickname my husband lovingly uses to remind me that I am great, good, competent, courageous, and enough. The name is also a playful nod to ChatGPT, which so many of us rely on for answers (maybe more than we should). Think of this as the human alternative: honest real talk, wisdom sharing, and actionable strategies on the specific leadership and culture topics that surface again and again in my consulting, coaching, and facilitation work.
