Difficult Conversations

Fast Company – On Difficult Conversations

“It’s no surprise that we all encounter difficult conversations at work. And yet, the biggest surprise of all may be that most people tend to shy away from them.”

“Numerous books and articles, for decades, have offered advice highlighting the importance of preparation, active listening, emotional regulation, or focusing on solutions to handle these discussions more effectively.” 

“However, large-scale surveys, both old and very recent, show that the majority of employees still avoid difficult conversations, except when they have no choice. This avoidance is not only morally costly but economically taxing, with each avoided conversation estimated to cost a minimum of $1,500, contributing to employee disengagement and turnover in the long term.”

“This raises some big questions such as, “How much do we really know about difficult conversations across the organization?” and “How can we improve our ability to handle difficult conversations?” “

“Based on our research and experience, we propose three strategies leaders can implement to make these crucial discussions easier for managers and employees.” Continue reading….