What do race car drivers and business leaders have in common? They are both professionals and each can have bad moments at work. Admittedly, a race car driver’s bad moments can be much worse (and even fatal), but a manager can also feel badly after a work-related difficult conversation. Confrontations with employees and customers (and sometimes a boss) can leave anyone feeling out of sorts, making it important to learn how to handle difficult conversations. Start with the mindset that they don’t have to be difficult.
· Never make it personal
· Have a plan but not a script
· Remember that words matter
· Non-verbal actions matter also
· Use emotional intelligence skills
· Listen to the other person’s perspective
· Give something back so everyone saves face
Unlike racing, this is not about who wins. Business leaders must approach difficult conversations with a goal to achieve a win-win outcome: it’s not about who’s right or wrong… it’s about finding a way to move forward. But like I said, these don’t have to be difficult: it’s always best if you have built a trusting relationship with your employees. While you never want to let one bad moment spoil a bunch of good ones, you can start by creating a culture where professionalism and respect limit the number of bad ones. That’s a good place to start today.
Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1951 – 2001): American professional NASCAR driver and team owner.
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