“Hey, can I talk to you privately for a sec?”

Immediately, you feel that pit in your stomach.

Your palms begin to sweat.

You begin thinking the worst.

“Oh no? What happened? What did I do?”

No one likes the feeling of having a difficult conversation.

Whether you’re on the receiving end or facilitating the conversation, it’s tough to bring someone into your office and let them go.

Difficult conversations can be about:

Performance issues
Asking for what you want (pay raise)
Saying I’m sorry
Letting someone know what isn’t working
Resolving project problems
Starting something new

On today’s Leading the Factory Forward Podcast, we’ll discuss ways to get better at having difficult conversations at home and in the workplace.

Difficult conversations are just that — difficult — but they don’t have to be.

Having hard conversations can lead to a long-awaited compromise, a cost-saving solution that may save the organization hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

Addressing the “elephant in the room” can be as satisfying as having a grandchild scratch your back for the first time in months.

In this episode, I am going to share 5 key elements and questions that will improve the difficult conversations that you, as a Leader, often must-have.

As a leader, one of your key success factors will be your ability to address issues and resolve conflicts in a way that works for you, others and helps the organization move forward with confidence.