How to Have a Difficult Conversation with Courage
Do you find some conversations really difficult and avoid them because conflict might result?
The Problem
You might recognize yourself in one of these situations:
You might be in a role at work where you need to address difficult situations… like, an employee not fully pulling their weight, or who is consistently late. You might realise that you NEED to address these issues, but you can’t bring yourself to do it. The idea of the discomfort, or being the bad guy, puts you right off.
You might be like Mary, who does her best to avoid conflict situations because she’s terrified of it. She usually agrees with everyone to keep the peace. She’s not feeling valued and her needs are never met. She’s secretly feeling resentful and exhausted.
Perhaps you have a business partner that you need to discuss a sticky issue with… and you just don’t know how to bring it up without causing conflict. You may know from previous experience that you just don’t think fast on your feet, and the other person does…. And it’s so uncomfortable for you to stand there while they come up with rapid-fire-answers, leaving you completely stunned and searching for words.
You may even be completely averse to the word ‘conflict’ or ‘assertiveness’ or ‘power’ and it’s hard for you to imagine you’ll ever be able to HAVE a difficult conversation with calmness.
In every one of the above situations, there are 2 main ingredients:
1. Not knowing HOW to have a difficult conversation skilfully
2. The emotional ‘stuff’ that gets in the way of having it in the first place
What’s the Solution?
1. Learn simple steps to having a skilful difficult conversation AND
2. Learn a method to feel calm and resourceful, so you can think better
You can do this in our workshop!
How to Have a Difficult Conversation with Courage
Communicating and clearing the air is key to building trust and respect – which is fundamental to healthy relationships.
Once you have some tools for engaging in uncomfortable situations they become much easier.
What you’ll learn:
- Practical skills so that you can approach any difficult conversation (or potential conflict) with confidence and courage.
- What happens in your brain when you think of disagreement or conflict.
- A method to help you feel calm and collected before, during and after difficult conversations.
- How to minimize the emotional charge so you can THINK clearly.
- How to keep yourself safe during a challenging conversation.
- The 3 basic components of dealing with conflict.
- How to be assertive without aggression.
- Simple steps to clarify your own thinking and be well prepared.
- To listen well and help the other person to hear you.
- How to feel curious instead of threatened.
- Step by step how to approach someone with respect, express your side fully, hear the other person’s side, and find a solution.
How does it work?
It’s a LIVE, online, active participation workshop series in 3 experiential modules of 90 minutes each.
Because this learning journey is spread over 3 calls, you’ll have time to practice, integrate and build your skills one step at a time.
And you receive additional support in a closed online group between workshops.
This is a very effective way of learning.
Where we Meet:
We use a technology called Zoom to meet live in an online room as a group. You’ll receive an easy link to click and we’ll provide clear instructions.
We make use of Zoom’s video and audio capabilities so it is exactly like we’re in a room together. This is a wonderful way of connecting since there’s no time wasted travelling and no traffic jams! You can attend from any quiet space that’s comfortable to you. It also means we can offer you a recording for future reference.
It’s essential to use a computer or laptop – phones and tablets have challenges with video and then you will miss out on some of the exercises. To participate, you will need your speakers/headset, microphone and camera to all work.
Recordings are available for live participants 24 hours after the workshop. Please plan to participate live.
As a Bonus, you receive:
• Access to a private Facebook group where we’ll answer your questions between workshops.
• Valuable handouts.
• Recordings of all the workshops for those who attend live.
Your Facilitators
“For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.” Margaret Heffernan
Liesel Teversham of Savvy Self Growth helps introverts to build confidence. She shares with them how to find and use their most energizing strengths, clear out the blocks to confidence, and live an authentic, rich life.
Alison Gitelson of CanBeeDone is a maximizer, growth enabler and an experienced facilitator. She helps people to create the conditions that allow them to do their best possible work, so that people and businesses are able to thrive.
“The practice of assertiveness: being authentic in our dealings with others; treating our values and persons with decent respect in social contexts; refusing to fake the reality of who we are or what we esteem in order to avoid disapproval; the willingness to stand up for ourselves and our ideas in appropriate ways in appropriate contexts”.
Nathaniel Branden
The Next Step
Contact me for an appointment to discuss your needs.
Get in Touch
Alison Gitelson
Call +27(0)82 573 9179
Email info@canbeedone.co.za
Based in South Africa - Working Globally
Contact Us