Are you going to have a difficult conversation at work anytime soon?
In this video, I’ll tell you how to survive…
Difficult conversations are part of our daily lives
Life is not always fun and games.
That goes also for work.
Sooner or later, you will have to deal with uncomfortable or conflictive situations and have difficult conversations with clients, colleagues, or the people who report to you.
Start by getting into the right mindset
The first thing that will get you through a difficult conversation is this: Having the right mindset.
This starts by understanding that an argument is not a contest where the loudest person wins. In fact, this is one of the big mistakes in debates: we become obsessed with imposing our position instead of looking to understand the other person.
The other person might have a valid point
If you open up to the possibility that the other person’s point of view might be valid, reaching a win-win agreement will be much easier.
For this reason, enter the conversation understanding that neither person is better and that it is not about being correct or better but about reaching a mutual understanding.
At the end of the day, you must continue to see each other’s faces frequently. It would be better if you could reach a common ground.
Take responsibility
Another element that will help you is to take responsibility for your actions and emotions. When angry or upset, we tend to hold others responsible for those actions and feelings, fueling the fire.
In reality, no one holds the power to make us feel or act a certain way if we don’t want to.
Acknowledge your role in getting to this point by accepting that your emotions are your own and no one else’s.
This is easy to say and very difficult to accomplish. But making an effort will be very positive for you.
Three mindset hacks to have difficult conversations
To summarize: Having the right mindset is critical to tackling a difficult conversation.
- Go in with an open mind.
- Be willing to understand the other person’s position.
- Take responsibility for your actions and emotions.
You will move on, and the relationship will be strengthened.
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