In the third and final episode of our three-part special, we take a look at those tough conversations you have to have when things aren’t going as planned and why the approach you take to these is so important in obtaining the most positive outcome for all involved.

Let’s face it! No matter who you are, tough conversations are never easy; you’re dealing with humans, and as humans, we all have an emotional side.

It doesn’t matter how great your business processes are, inevitably, as a business owner you will have to have these tough conversations. In this episode, Barbara and Matt draw on their own personal experiences and share their tips and insights into how to approach these conversations to ensure that you achieve the most out of them.

Some of the areas covered are:

Why shying away from tough conversations is never a good thing.
Why it’s important to become masterful with your language and communication style.
The critical steps you need to take when planning for those tough conversations.
Common conversation hurdles you may encounter and tips on overcoming these.
Advice on how to respond if the meeting doesn’t go to plan.
Ways to reduce the number of tough conversations you may be having.

Let us know what your key takeout has been from this episode and join the continuing conversation over in the Virtual Success Facebook Group.

In this episode:

04:00 – Tough conversations are never easy
06:16 – Client case study – shying away from the ‘tough’ conversation
08:38 – The “tough guy syndrome”
09:19 – Candour
11:18 – Becoming masterful with your language and communication style
13:56 – Setting up for those tough conversations
14:12 – Set up a meeting with an agenda
15:52 – Present the facts as they are
17:28 – Use video communication channels
18:58 – Conversation hurdles
19:47 – Conquering those hurdles
24:03 – How to respond if the meeting doesn’t go to plan
28:29 – Reducing the number of tough conversations
30:21 – Wrapping things up