Four Tips when Handling a Difficult Conversation

Four Tips when Handling a Difficult Conversation

There are very few people who feel comfortable having difficult conversations with someone on their team, their supervisor or even in their personal lives. But they are so important as you move forward in your career.  To reframe the idea,  I like to think of them as courageous conversations.

Tough and direct conversations can be difficult and as I get further in my career, these types of conversations become more frequent. For some, difficult conversations can occur multiple times a day and others less frequent. Regardless, tough and direct conversations can be difficult and in today’s society, is an important skillset to practice and in any profession.

Asking for a raise, talking about an increased workload and how to balance ambitious targets with limited resources, wanting to discuss career goals, team performance, or even exploring new opportunities are all important, courageous conversations to have as you navigate your career, but they can never be easy.

The pressure for the conversation to go well, while continuing to inspire ourselves and others, and minimize stress for both parties are only a few things to consider. John Hall, CEO and co-founder of Influence & Co outlines a few mistakes people make when handling tough conversations and encourages people to “Lose the Script” to inspire your team to keep going. Check out the full article to learn more about this important skill.