Difficult Conversations
As a leader being responsible and empowering, you may need to deliver unwelcome or unexpected messages.
While this is never easy, understanding how to deliver these messages in an inspirational way will help you maintain a positive and productive relationship with the person impacted.
Preparing for these conversations is critical for achieving positive outcomes.
Check the hints and tips section for practical input to your conversations.
Match the Tool
to Your Need
Take time to prepare for difficult conversations. Use the Difficult conversation planner to be clear about your approach before the meeting.
The importance of feedback cannot be overstated. We all need feedback to understand what we are doing well and what we need to do differently. Use the Giving Feedback tool to prepare for these important conversations.
People often respond emotionally to difficult messages. See Stages of change for ways to help people reach the point where they can take positive action.
We all come across difficult people from time to time and often have to deal with their negative behaviour. Use the Dealing with people you find difficult resource to plan strategies to turn negative behaviour around.
Use the Skill/will matrix to guide you in choosing the correct leadership interaction to be inspirational and not hinder a good outcome.
The Insights quick reference guide will help you recognise other’s type and adjust your behaviour accordingly to get the best from your conversation.
Tools, Guides
& Resources
Tools:
- Difficult conversation planner
- Giving feedback
- Stages of change
- Dealing with people you find difficult
- Skill/Will matrix
- Insights quick reference guide
Other areas that might help:
Hints and Tips
- A successful outcome will depend on two things: what you say and how you say it – living our Values as you have the conversation
- Choose time and place carefully.
- Recognise emotional energy – yours and theirs – and direct it towards a useful purpose. Don’t ignore it.
- Be clear about your purpose. Know and return to your purpose at difficult moments.
- Don’t assume they can see things from your point of view.
- Practise the conversation – at least in your head – and visualise a successful outcome.