Challenging Conversations
Challenging Conversations
How to deliver them effectively, with confidence and minimal collateral damage!
If the term ‘difficult conversations’ carries negative connotations for you, then we could use the words, ‘courageous conversations’ or ‘challenging conversations’, but whatever the wording, they’re not easy, nobody likes having them, and it’s easy to make a complete mess of them.
The hard truth is that we live in a complex, fast-paced society where challenging conversations are an unavoidable part of daily life and necessary for building better organisations, for developing meaningful relationships, and safeguarding our wellbeing. The question therefore is NOT:
HOW DO WE AVOID CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS?
But instead …
How do we consistently deliver the most effective conversations, which resolve painful situations and/or create much-needed clarity?
In this session, we will explore:
The two most common types of challenging conversations (negotiable and non-negotiable) how they’re different, why their differences demand a different response and how to prepare for either conversation.
The most common biases which undermine effective conversations, from halo effect, affinity bias, hindsight bias and recency bias, to planning fallacy.
Boundaries: why they’re at the heart of effective conversations, the 3 types of boundaries to look out for and how to master your boundaries to create better outcomes.
Language: how to avoid the most obstructive language habits, so that your delivery of a challenging conversation is free of subconscious, inflammatory language.
How to effectively set up a challenging conversation, whilst avoiding the fateful phrase: “can I have a word please?”
How to manage your state and take the heat out of a conversation, when things are getting tense and you're struggling to think clearly..
The difference between focussed and unfocussed listening and the simple steps to remember, in order to ensure your listening is focussed.