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Three Questions You Can Use in Difficult Conversations

Guy Leave a Comment

Three Questions to Ask

By Guy Harris Eventually, all leaders find themselves in difficult conversations. It might come as a result of a conflict between team members, as part of a sensitive coaching/feedback discussion, or when reconciling different ideas for how to proceed on a project. There may be weeks or months between them, or you might have three difficult conversations in one day. How they … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication, Difficult Situations, Leadership, Personal & Professional Development Tagged With: difficult conversations, difficult situations, leadership

Take the WIRED Approach to Improve Communication

Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

When we talk about burnout from a leadership perspective, it's often in terms of how to recognize and treat it, both of which are highly important. However, what we want to focus on today takes a more proactive approach to prevent burnout. Especially in times of stress, whether that stress is associated with a work intiative that requires extreme focus and long days for a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: communicating with employees, difficult conversations, difficult situations, featured blogger

Respond Assertively, Not Aggressively

Bud to Boss Editors Leave a Comment

The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others. - Sharon Anthony Bower No matter how great a manager you are, bad things will happen at work. Not every day, but occasionally. It’s how you handle those incidents—the ones that fill you with frustration, anger and dread—that determine what … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication, Management Tagged With: communicating with employees, difficult conversations, difficult employees, difficult people, difficult situations, new leaders

5 Practical Steps You Can Take to Reduce Tension Between Co-workers

Guy Leave a Comment

Tension between co-workers is one of the more common sources of emotional “pressure” build-up for people. Left unaddressed for long enough, the pressure can reach a boiling point.  Fortunately, you can do something about it before the tension becomes a major conflict. 1. Create opportunities for people to better understand and appreciate their behavioral differences and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: conflict, conflict management, conflict resolution, difficult conversations, difficult situations, Guy Harris

Make a Great Virtual First Impression

Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

We're all spending so much more time in online meetings these days, and much of our interviewing and client onboarding is happening via video chat. So what can you do to make a great first virtual impression? Andres Lares, Managing Partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute (SNI), offers these five body language tips to ensure you are making the best possible virtual … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: communicating with employees, difficult conversations, featured blogger

How to Master the Art of Respectful Truth-Telling

Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Most people have suppressed their true feelings to avoid conflict at work. “When you need to have a difficult conversation with someone, it’s best to be prepared,” says Jackie Gaines, Wearing the Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership  “Having an idea of the actual words you plan to use ahead of time makes the experience easier and will help you feel calm and in control … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: communicating with employees, communication, conflict, difficult conversations, difficult situations

How to Keep a Conflict From Escalating

Guy Leave a Comment

When I work with clients, I often see judgment driving much of the thinking during a conflict conversation. Rather than a genuine curiosity for understanding where the other person is coming from, one or both people judge the other person's intentions. Here's how I see the difference between these two attitudes: An attitude of judgment says: “They're trying to take … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: communicating with employees, communication, conflict, conflict resolution, difficult conversations

How to Talk to an Angry Person

Guy Leave a Comment

Emotions are running high, and people seemingly get angry for no reason. If you’re like most of the people, you managing someone's emotional outburst is the last thing you one to do. While some people seem to have a knack for helping others “back off the edge,” most people feel at least a little bit nervous or apprehensive about such situations, especially new managers who have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: communicating with employees, conflict, difficult conversations, difficult situations

Helping Grief-Stricken Employees

Bud to Boss Editors Leave a Comment

Death is an incredibly tough subject to discuss, and one we are confronted with daily these days, but it's also been an issue that managers and leaders have dealt with for a long time. How should you act when an employee loses a loved one? What should you say? How do you respond without coming across as invasive? When one of your employees suffers the loss of a loved one, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Communication, Management Tagged With: communication, difficult conversations, difficult situations, leadership, mourning employees

Resources: Managing Negativity Now and Later

Bud to Boss Editors Leave a Comment

Most people right now are feeling the full weight of the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re anxious or scared. They may be feeling frustrated with the stay at home measures. Some are experiencing financial problems. Some may have even lost a loved one to the virus. Most of us are dealing with emotional highs and lows, and that can affect even the most positive people’s attitudes. To … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Management, Performance Management Tagged With: difficult conversations, difficult situations, leadership problems

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