How Can I Get Better At Difficult Conversations?

• Comfort with Yourself.

Difficult conversations are most often so difficult because we put too much stress in them. It is the stress of the conversations that have a lot at stake that make it even harder to have them though.

We get flustered, cannot think straight, loose sight of what is important and make mistakes. Getting comfortable with yourself and being okay with whatever outcome the conversation may have can very easily take the edge off.

Look at the best conversationalists out there and you will at the very least perceive them to be comfortable or confident.

• Focus on the Bigger Picture.

This is a strategy implemented by a lot of debaters: Keeping the Topic on Track. Many people tend to go off track in their discussions and conversations and then cloud up the main point being discussed.

If you can keep your focus on the original point of the conversation and keep it there it not only avoids emotions going to big but also helps you address one point after another instead of all at once.

• Be Emotional.

I am aware that I just said we want to avoid emotions getting too big, but that is mainly for us. Emotions are the things that sell and a difficult conversation is often nothing more…