How to Have Difficult Conversations

Having difficult conversations can be challenging, whether with a loved one, friend, colleague, or employer. We delay having these conversations out of fear of how we will feel and of the worst-case scenario happening when we do go through with them. These conversations require us to be vulnerable and experience emotions such as disappointment, anger, and frustration. We must know how to approach these conversations proactively to make them less stressful.

Sometimes, one of the most difficult conversations we need to have is the one that has the potential to bring you closer or push you further away from the other person. Knowing how to approach such conversations will help you to prepare and have them. A few things can help us better navigate these conversations and put us in the right frame of mind to go ahead. In this episode, Trista explains how fear keeps us from having difficult conversations and what we can do to allow all the emotions to have the honest and open conversation we really want.

Key Highlights

[00:44] Today’s theme; Having difficult conversations

[02:48] How fear keeps us from having difficult conversations

[04:22] Tips for having difficult conversations

[04:37] #1 Have awareness around what we are afraid will happen

[06:03] #2 Be clear that regardless of what happens, you are afraid of feeling that

the emotion that you think will accompany the result of the conversation

[08:06] #3 Focus on best case scenario

[09:08] #4 Be clear about what you want, why you want it, and like your reasons

[09:54] #5 Be prepared for the next steps

[12:10] #6 Choose your thoughts deliberately about the conversation and the other person

[12:31] #7 Be honest with the person you are speaking to about how you are feeling