Having difficult conversations at work

There exist two ways that lead to making a point. One makes the point, but alienates the other person (“client”, “team leader”, “coworker”, you name it), the other does not. Good news:this tact is a skill, which like any other, requires practice to master it. Keep reading to know more about how to do it! 

People nowadays struggle to talk with each other. Sides have been chosen. We don’t even know how to cope with disagreements over family dinners, yet we find ourselves having heated arguments with acquaintances on social media.

It’s vital to learn how to have difficult conversations. 

But first….

What is a difficult -even impossible- conversation? 

They are conversations that take place across a seemingly unbridgeable gulf of disagreement in ideas, beliefs, worldviews. Participation is not a problem in these conversations. The more invested in your beliefs you are, the more you want to speak about them. The challenge we do face in these conversations is the lack of a give-and-take approach. You are viewed as a recipient of ideas. Or even worse, as an opponent to beat. Of course it might be much easier to decide not to talk to people like that. However, to grow and expand personally and professionally it’s far better to know how to navigate those conversations. 

So if you are about to have a challenging conversation, or you are interested in developing the knack of making a point in difficult conversations, follow these tips: 

💡Identify the reason(s) why you are participating in the conversation. Once you identify the goals, use the conversational techniques that best help you achieve them. 

💡Make understanding your partner your main goal. Abandon adversarial thinking and embrace collaborative thinking. Shift from “This person is my opponent who needs to understand what I’m saying”, to “This person is my partner in a conversation and I can learn from him” 

💡It comes naturally to all of us to respond favorably to someone who listens, shows kindness, treats us well, and appears respectful. You can recount examples from your own life. What about adding these ingredients to your conversations? 

💡Keep learning. Once your “difficult” conversation has come to an end, spend a few minutes reflecting on the outcome. You can ask yourself: 

 🤔Did the conversation go as planned? 

 🤔Did I accomplish my goal? 

 🤔What worked well? 

 🤔What would I do differently?

These questions can help you to continue improving as a communicator, and continue strengthening your relationships at work.  

Communication is an art that takes time and practice to improve and for that reason we would like to invite you to our next Breakfast Club. If you know someone who might benefit from this open conversation session, please consider forwarding this email to them. Come and join the conversation next June, 30th - 11 a.m. ART. to develop the knack of making your point without making enemies 😉

          Free registration here                      

Join our Breakfast Club! 

As usual, every month we give you the opportunity to practice your conversation skills. 

Write to us if you want to join or fill out the form in our bio on Instagram

This activity is for free for our community. 

Our Feel Good Program offers 15-minute open and free spaces exclusively for all members of our community where a Yoga Instructor guides you on stretching, breathing, and relaxation techniques. 

Possible schedules:

Tuesdays 9.15 a.m. ART Link to join 

Thursdays 4 p.m. ART Link to join 

The knack of

a skill or an ability to do something easily and well

“She has the knack of making people feel comfortable in interviews.”

 🙋I need tips to write better emails

🙋 ♂️I want to join the Conversation Club next June 30th