Difficult conversations

 

When a situation necessitates a tough conversation, how do you handle it – respectfully and productively? Whether we’re dealing with an underperforming colleague, disagreeing with your spouse/partner about money, negotiating with a difficult client, or simply saying, “no,” or “I’m sorry,” or “I love you,” we attempt to avoid difficult conversations every day. No matter how competent we are, we all have conversations that cause anxiety and frustration.

This program is based on the fifteen years of research at the Harvard Negotiation Project. Difficult Conversations walks you through a proven step-by-step approach for how to have your toughest conversations with less stress and more success. It shows you how to prepare yourself, how to start the conversation without defensiveness, and how to keep it constructive and focused regardless of how the other person responds. Learn how to recognize a challenging situation and practice models and methods for having a difficult conversation with clear outcomes.

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Objectives:

• Understand the impact when conflict isn’t addressed

• Learn and practice three levels of listening (intuitive)

• Gain fluency with the Harvard model of difficult conversations

• Practice having a difficult conversation

 

Outcomes:

• Listen for what is not said and uncover hidden needs

• Understand the mechanics of a difficult conversation

• Gain confidence in having difficult conversations