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Our blog offers important resources, helpful articles, and practical ideas on the human resources topics that matter to you.
Our blog offers important resources, helpful articles, and practical ideas on the human resources topics that matter to you.
Home / Media / Blog / Your Playbook for Tough Employee Conversations
We often put off tough conversations because we don’t know how to broach the topic. That’s why we wrote this article: so you can lead with greater confidence, create healthier discourse with your team members, and achieve your goals.
All month long, we’ve been sharing why it’s important that small business owners and leaders Just Say It.
Just say what needs to be said to an underperforming team member.
Just say the feedback you have held off saying to someone who needs to hear the truth.
In our earlier article this month, we shared one of our favorite icebreaker questions to begin a hard conversation. Here, we will share several of our preferred ways to have tough conversations.
We often put off tough conversations because we don’t know how to broach the topic. We don’t want the conversation to turn into a shouting match. We often “catastrophize” an undesired outcome.
That’s why we wrote this article: so you can lead with greater confidence, create healthier discourse with your team members, and achieve your goals.
We find three common errors small business leaders make when handling tough conversations.
Preparation is key. Don’t assume you’ll “rise to the occasion.” Most often, we lower to the degree of our training and preparation. That’s why we recommend preparing a discussion guide for your tough conversation.
Tough conversations, by definition, are tough. Here’s a checklist to help you stay focused, present, and goal-driven.
Many small business leaders put off tough conversations because they “catastrophize” the outcome: assuming the worst possible outcome. Watch out for any stories you might be telling yourself about negative outcomes before having a tough conversation.
In other words, don’t dread the conversation. Instead, see it for what it could be: a chance to address an issue and make improvements. Tough conversations are opportunities for further growth: both for your team member and yourself.
Not all conversations are easy. And not all conversations go the way we would like. But these preparation tips and tough conversations checklist will further your effectiveness as a leader and invite a healthy conversation that can lead to a win-win solution.
Interested in other current employment trends? Click the link to view the recent blog: Interested in other current employment trends? Click the link to view the recent blog: Five Wage and Hour Violations That May Surprise You or check back for more on human resources, payroll, insurance, and benefits. or check back for more on human resources, payroll, insurance, and benefits.
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