Drawn from the work of Fernando Flores and John Searle.

All six actions are tools arising from Speech Action Theory. We can use them to make our conversations purposeful and get commitment from others to change things for the better. These linguistic tools are therefore vital in achieveing improvements in performance, leadership for change, and healthy self-esteem.

The fascinating thing is that we cannot, NOT use them. It is vital therefore that we know how to apply them well in our conversations to get others to do what we want and be successful at the game of life. They include:

1. Telling people how things are - making declarations - writing reports - making presentations to expand other people's understanding of what is and what's possible as a precursor of change.

2. Getting other people to do things - making requests to get a desired change in people or circumstances or outcomes.

3. Committing ourselves to do things - making promises - accepting responsibility to do something to contribute to desired change

4. Expressing feelings and attitudes - making assessments - opinions, assumptions and judgements in the hope of changing others

5. Directing others to change - making assertions - backed by data or authority to bring about a different reality or a desired future for them

6. Doing something to help others - making offers of support in the hope that it will get them to change

We get results through our interactions with others and this takes effective communications skills. We cannot create anything without engaging in these lingustic acts.

NOTE: Every linguistic act will reflect a mood or attitude and be reflected in bodily sensations depending on the circumstances and the emotional state of the participants. Language has the power to create our very state of being and the reality we experience.

Link the following everyday activities
with one of the six "linguistic acts" noted above

1. Listened to the news on the radio and discovered that interest rates had been increased by a quarter of one percent

2. Made an impromptu decision to go to the cinema on your own

3. Listened to some gossip at work about a colleague

4. Phoned the shop to see if the bill could be paid by credit card

5. Invite friends to join you for a meal at your favourite restaurant

6. After being asked to provide transport, saying to your son that you will drive him and his friends to a party

How we play the game of linguistic acts influences out 'way of being', how we observe the world, the effectiveness of our actions, our identity, even the quality of our existence.

The focus of our linguistic acts should be on achieving what is important to us which we often express as our concerns. These concerns reveal the meaning we give to the actions, intentions and needs of others. This is what makes our lives meaningful and ful filling.

It is important therefore to listen as well as speak with our concerns or goals in mind. This way we interact with others in ways that will enable us commit to take care of our concerns. We are then more likely to address them or achieve our goals.

Always consider the purpose of
your listening and speaking.

Are you trying to make yourself look good in the eyes of others? Are you speaking out for the less able? Are you looking for the good in people? Are you seeking clarity or mutual understanding?

THE CONVERSATION FOR ACTION
In a conversation for action there are always two players - a customer and a provider. The provider makes an offer or the customer makes a demand that the want satisfied.

From the organisation's point of view, it defines itself by the offers, commitments or promises it makes and the requests it accepts. Declarations or promises that are not satified by the time agreed will lead to a breakdown of trust and the relationship degenerating into deeper concerns.

Applying the methods of Fernando Flores to the customer- provider relationship for example, leads to a focus on both their concerns in order to get agreement on the commitments on both sides need to make.

THE PROMISE CYCLE
Click here for an explanatory article by Alan Sieler at Newfield College, Australia

1. Preparation - diagnostic stage.
The provider makes an offer or the customer makes a request. This sets the context for the relationship. In coaching this would be the diagnostic stage.

2. Negotiation - goal setting stage
The provider listens carefully to clarify the customer's concerns in order to agree what can be offered to the customer that is of value to them. Why is the other person saying what they are saying and does it reflect what they really want. Both parties need to understand clearly what will make each other satisfied. In coaching this would include the coaching agreement and the goal setting stage.

3. Performance - co-active conversations
Once an agreement is reached there is a commitment on both sides to the meet the conditions for satisfaction that will relate to time, cost, style, deadlines, etc. Trust can only be built through action. Without trust you are unlikely to get open and honest conversations. Both parties need to know when the commitment has been fulfilled. In coaching this includes sticking to the agreement throgh co-active conversations.

4. Assessment - review stage
Care must be taken not to treat assessments as if they were facts. This is the most difficult stage because the 5 Speech Acts interact. Assertions are made but unless conclusive evidence can be provided they are merely assessments. Declarations too may have been made about specific outcomes, but when disputed they can only be assessments or judgements. The most important consideration here is the customer's assessment of satisfaction.

BREAKDOWN
If one reneges on a commitment, one must do three things:

apologise
offer compensation for the broken promise
be open to a new request

More info at: http://www.newfieldaus.com.au/articles/Sixth_Discipline.html
Read: Coaching to the Human Soul by Alan Sieler. Newfield Australia 2003

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