4 Steps To Get Ready for Difficult Conversations


Well hello Reader!

I recently had the opportunity to dive deep into the topic of navigating difficult conversations, both in 2 client trainings this month, and then today inside of our Culture Change membership community.

As someone who has been training and coaching on this subject for years, I’ve noticed that most people who want training or coaching on having “difficult conversations” think the work begins in the dialogue between two people.

However, some of the most important work to resolve conflicts and challenging dynamics begins well before we engage in the conversation with the other person.

When I'm hired to consult with or train clients, I always emphasize the importance of self-awareness as the foundation for important and productive conversations that achieve repair.

Inevitably during a session, a participant will ask me for a script that will tell them the right thing to say and when. However, that script won’t be useful if you don’t do the self-awareness work that includes:

  • Understanding your feelings
  • Knowing your emotional triggers
  • Interrupting your biases, and
  • Identifying your desired outcomes for the conversation

I've developed a super simplified process for getting “Conversation Ready”.

A simple 4 steps which are:

  1. Objectively assess the situation: consider what happened and how it made you feel?
  2. Identify your feelings and emotional triggers and regulate them.
  3. Examine your stories and limiting beliefs about the other person.
  4. Clarify your desired outcome and what you want/need to focus on during the conversation.

This pre-work is essential for entering into difficult conversations with clarity, empathy, and a genuine desire for resolution.

While it may seem like a lot of effort, it’s the difference between getting stuck in a cycle of blame and escalation and finding a path forward that strengthens relationships and fosters mutual understanding.

Want your staff or leadership team trained on this process? We’re currently booking clients for late August 2024 and beyond.

  • Simply click this link and tell us what you're hoping to transform for the better when it comes to communication and interpersonal dynamics. From there, my team will get you booked in an Alignment Call where we can explore possibilities and potential partnership.

Warmly,

P.S. I went live on LinkedIn today to share a little more about this process. Wanna watch that video? You can find that here.

Hi! I'm Chrysta!

I help leaders create equitable & inclusive workplace cultures. I'm a bias-busting, liberation-loving coach and advisor who teaches people the skills needed to create a more joyful, equitable, just, and inclusive world, one organization at a time. I believe we deserve to pursue our passions, live out loud, and thrive without the threats of identity-based harms.

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