What do you do when you get hijacked by your emotions? How about when others have opposing opinions? These are the times you should do your best and often do your worst! Whenever you’re not getting the results you're looking for, it’s likely that a crucial conversation is keeping you stuck. Crucial Conversations(TM) are those conversations that have opposing opinions, strong emotions and high stakes. Handled poorly, crucial conversations can get ugly. Handled well, crucial conversations will:
- Enrich relationships.
- Increase your influence.
- Strengthen your teams.
- Boost your bottom line.
- Stay focused on goals even when emotions run strong.
- Increase awareness of warning signs that a conversation is about to take a turn for the worse;
- Make it safe to talk about almost anything.
- Create healthy dialogue even when you feel scared, angry, frustrated or hurt.
- Say potentially hurtful things in a way that minimizes defensiveness.
- Listen effectively even when others blow up or clam up.
- Move successfully from discussing tough issues to taking healthy action.
When leaders and employees routinely use dialogue skills, they are able to talk openly and effectively about important issues. The results of this open, effective communication are predictable. As people gain greater access to vital information, your organization becomes more effective and a more enjoyable place to work.