Harvard Business Review has a great article on How to Have Difficult Conversations When You Don’t Like Conflict.
My perspective:
#1. Don’t think of these types of conversations as ‘difficult’ as it will affect how you start the conversation. You will already be on edge and you won’t be listening to understand but listening to reply. You may miss crucial information, both verbal and non-verbal, which will impact your outcome.
#2. I’ve heard so many people say ‘I don’t like conflict’ so they are already making the assumption that the conversation will be that way. What if it’s just a conversation? How differently would you approach it?
What happens when you view conversations as difficult and see them as conflict?
The conversation never happens!
Nothing gets discussed or resolved.
It’s a lose:lose situation that the other party probably doesn’t even know about!
Read the article here.
Natasha
