6 Steps for Managing Difficult Conversations

A critical difference between average and great workplace performance lies in how people handle difficult conversations. When we choose to say nothing rather than speak up, it causes employee engagement and retention figures to drop, projects to fall behind and teams to work in silos rather than collaboratively. We create a culture of silence.

Unfortunately, we fail to consider the cost of not dealing with the issue promptly and directly. By choosing silence, we waste significant time and resources, damage relationships and increase stress by working around our problems.

For example, when most managers are facing a challenge with a member of their team, they will call upon HR to seek a resolution or ‘wait and see’ if the issue will fix itself, rather than hold what we refer to as a crucial conversation – where it’s high stakes, there is a difference of opinion and strong emotions.