Difficult Conversation Ahead? Do these three things!

We've all had to have conversations that were direct and crucial to our own success of the success of a co-worker or employee. It isn't easy, especially since over 50% of women are self-proclaimed people pleasers. These three tips can help! 1. Prepare Ahead and be Succinct—Before having the conversation, write yourself an outline with bullet points. Include a clear objective for the conversation and the desired outcome. Make sure you are direct and concise in your explanation of a behavior, situation or circumstance. Don't forget to include how the behavior affects the team, you, and/or the company. 2) Don't use 'you'—When you use YOU in an explanation of a problem, it triggers our primal part of our brain, you know the one that wants to fight, because the person threatened. Example: "You need to arrive to meetings on time." Instead try: "We are a team built on respect and one of the quickest ways to show disrespect is arriving late to meetings. This throws off the flow and sends a message of indifference. " Ask questions and be inquisitive but don't ask WHY questions—Inquiring about the situation will open up a dialogue and provide a place for the person to be heard. Example: "Why are you always late to meetings?" Instead: "What strategies can be put in place to help with time management?" Good luck!