Dealing with Challenging Conversations

If you’re unsure of how to best approach a challenging conversation, here are our top tips to guide you:

  • Be direct
  • Be specific
  • Plan out the conversation
  • Watch your language and your body language
  • Offer and agree a solution
  • Manage your emotions
  • Be empathetic
  • Allow the other person to ask questions

And think about what could you say?

  • I have something I’d like to discuss with you that I think will help us work together more effectively.
  • I’d like to talk about ____________ with you, but first I’d like to get your point of view.
  • I need your help with what just happened. Do you have a few minutes to talk?
  • I need your help with something. Can we talk about it (soon)? If the person says, “Sure, let me get back to you,” follow up with them.
  • I think we have different perceptions about _____________________. I’d like to hear your thinking on this.
  • I’d like to talk about ___________________. I think we may have different ideas about how to _____________________.
  • I’d like to see if we might reach a better understanding about ___________. I really want to hear your feelings about this and share my perspective as well.

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