Thursday, October 29, 2015

5 Steps for Tackling Tough Conversations

5 Steps for Tackling Tough Conversations
  1. State concerns directly. Communicate in a way that doesn’t alienate the other person. Use “I” statements to describe your experience of the behavior you are seeing and to understand the essence of the issue.
  2. Probe for more information to gain a deeper understanding. Be patient and ask open-ended questions. Create a safe and supportive environment that is free of fear.
  3. Engage the other party through whole-hearted listening. Listen even when it is uncomfortable. Focus and understand what the other person is saying. Quiet your inner thoughts. Be fully present throughout the conversation.
  4. Attend to body language. Be able to spot discrepancies between what you are hearing and what you are seeing. If you notice body language that is inconsistent with what you are hearing, take an extra minute to explore further.
  5. Keep forward focused. Resist the urge to move ahead before everyone is ready. It is a delicate balance to make sure everyone has been heard while also keeping the focus on moving the conversation forward. Don’t be in a hurry—sometimes going slower is faster.

1 comment:

Road Warrior said...

#6.Leave anger and emotion out of the conversation,simply state the facts..Both will reduce your ability to get your point across....