I am the first to raise my hand to say I can't stand conflict and I am a recovering people pleaser. I've spent years learning to confidently approach challenging situations, but I still get anxiety at the thought of having a hard discussion.
In a business where we interact with myriads of people daily and often in high stress situations, hard discussions are more normal than not. Over the years, I've developed a few tactics that can help to ease the anxiety when we enter a conversation or negotiation we know has the potential to turn contentious.
" In a business wrought with emotion, dealing in facts is critical."
Tips for the Best Outcome of Mastering Hard Conversations:
Visualize the outcome - I spend some time before I make a hard call or enter a potentially challenging meeting visualizing the ideal outcome of the situation. It is a great intention-setting and grounding exercise to calm anxiety that could be creeping in.
Gather the facts - in a business wrought with emotion, dealing in facts is critical. I make a list of the high-level points I want to hit. I find people have a hard time arguing with facts so it's a great way to move the conversation along.
Set the time - I learned this from a team member and I love it. When you know you have to have a hard conversation, control when it occurs. Don't answer the phone if you know you're not in a headspace to have a hard discussion. Settle yourself first, then call the person back. So often, we take calls on the fly and we aren't prepared for the discussion that ensues.
Check your posture - as silly as this may sound, remembering to sit up tall with your shoulders back will put you in a position that will make you feel more confident for the conversation ahead
Ultimately, conflict is not something to fear, but a skill to master—navigating challenges with confidence, strategy, and emotional intelligence is the true art of professional growth.
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