Monthly Archive: March 2024

Difficult conversations though necessary are hard to crack. Fear of a bad outcome or not knowing what to say can prevent you from engaging in meaningful dialogue right when you need it the most. To handle difficult conversations well, practice these 6 rules of effective communication.

Communication / Leadership

6 Rules of Effective Communication in Difficult Conversations

Difficult conversations by nature are tricky. They are touchy topics that no one likes to talk about. They involve addressing differences of opinion, emotional issues, sensitive subjects or other potential reasons of conflict. They are challenging because they require us to navigate through discomfort, uncertainty and a wide range of complex emotions. No matter how hard a conversation is, you can’t put it off or delay it forever. Addressing issues directly, providing clarity and seeking closure can help you gain trust, respect and also alleviate stress.

Most managers are too busy playing a catch up game—handling unexpected issues, calendars filled with meetings and pacifying unhappy stakeholders—that they fail to pay attention to harmful practices and mistakes that hurt their team’s productivity and performance.

Leadership / Management

Good Managers Don’t Make These Mistakes

All managers make mistakes. However, some mistakes are not only avoidable, they’re costly to business and hinder team’s development and growth. Most managers are too busy playing a catch up game—handling unexpected issues, calendars filled with meetings and pacifying unhappy stakeholders—that they fail to pay attention to harmful practices that hurt their team’s productivity and performance. To break unhealthy patterns of thinking and acting, managers need to pay special attention to how they communicate, collaborate and get work done. In particular, they must pay attention to five critical mistakes that other good managers don’t make.