difficult conversations made easier

It’s understandable to want to delay, or even avoid, difficult conversations—especially if you dread conflict. But doing so can actually damage relationships. Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Joel Garfinkel, author of Difficult Conversations, Practical Tactics for Crucial Conversation, offers this advice for making tough conversations more palatable: 

• Don't worry about being liked: Lean into the conversation with curiosity, an open attitude, and a desire to learn. If you respect the other person’s point of view, they are likely to respect yours. (Tweet it!)
• Focus on what you hear—not what you say: Tough conversations rarely go as imagined, so stay in the moment and observe, reflect, respond.
• Be direct: When you do speak, get to the point.
• Don't put it off: The sooner you say what’s on your mind, the sooner you can move on.
• Expect a positive outcome: Focus on the long-term gains the conversation can create for the relationship.

Have you initiated a difficult conversation? What strategies did you use, and how did they affect the outcome? Did the relationship improve afterward? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

If you would like to learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication, check out our online learning programs.  

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