1.
Difficult
Conversati
ons
effective
less and
more
Making

2.
Leadership
is exhibited
through
CONVERSATIONS
I have been
avoiding this
for a long time.
I don’t think she’ll
ever change.
What if he
gets mad?
I have to
resolve this.
GET
CLEAR
ON YOU

3.
3
What is the issue?
Why is it bothering you?
What are your assumptions?
What emotions are present?
What is your purpose?
What is the ideal outcome?
What will happen?
CONSIDER

4.
Don’t blurt,
converse
I have a list of problems to
discuss with you.
Let’s go.
Develop your
skills
Visualize your
outcome

5.
Make it Safe
Show respect
Listen sincerely
Thank you for
meeting
with me today.
Be sincere.
Be real.
open and engaged

6.
questions
ASK
OPEN-ENDED
Tell me more…
I don’t fully
understand…
So, what I hear
you saying is…
I understand it’s
difficult for you …

7.
Yes, AND
Validate
Understand
Express
Listen
your point of view
to the other’s point of viewRESOLVE TOGETHER

8.
You’re right. I
hadn’t really thought
of it like that.
What are you
telling yourself?
He won’t
want to talk
to me.
I won’t be
able to
explain what
I want.
RECOGNIZE
FOCUS
on
OUTCOME
RESPECT

9.
I believe…
I saw…
I’m concerned
that…
I understand it’s
difficult for you …

10.
I’m sorry I
made such a big
deal out of
something so
unimportant.
It was
thoughtless for
me to assume
you didn’t care.
Take
for
AVOID BLAME
responsibility
your actions
be aware and open

11.
POWER
DIFFERENTIALS
have the
difficult
conversation
when the
need arises
Don’t let
situations festerPractice
and develop
your skill
I can do this.
It’ll be OK.

12.
You’re not
seeing my point.
What do you have
to say about this?
May I offer you a
different
perspective?
I’d like to hear
your thinking on
this.
Everyone says you
dominate every
conversation you’re in.
I’ve noticed that some
people stop talking when
you are in the
conversation.
You seem quite
adamant.
This sounds really
important to you.
A
better
way This video features the song “Si Tu Savais” by Arsen, available
under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license
Human Resources