5 Ways to Manage Difficult Conversations

Everybody occasionally struggles with difficult conversations, but some people do everything they can to avoid conflict. And if you have low self-esteem, it can make dealing with these situations unbearable.

Unfortunately, avoiding difficult conversations doesn’t make them go away. It often just makes things worse.

So how can we have these discussions in a positive and effective way? And can this substantially improve our work and home lives?

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Here are 5 ways to make difficult conversations easier.

Identify your Strengths

• What are 5 qualities that you like about yourself?

• What 5 things that you are good at?

• What are you top 3-5 strengths?

• What are some past accomplishments you're proud of?

Visualize Positive Conversations

Your mind cannot distinguish between imagination and reality.

• Imagine yourself cool and collected during a difficult conversation

• Picture yourself in the heat of confrontation.

• How do you look, feel, and sound when you are at your best?

Silence your Inner Critic

• What's the worst thing that could happen?

• What's the best thing that could happen?
  

  • Flip the script -- instead of saying--"I'm not good at directions", say "I'm working on being a better driver"

Identify your Values

• What are your top 3 values?

• How do these effect your expected outcome?

• What are you willing to give up? What is critical?

Practice Gratitude

• Appreciate all that went well in the conversation

• Try to find the opportunity in the outcome