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No matter how accomplished or confident we may be with our communication skills, at some point everyone finds themselves in a situation where they need to have a conversation they would rather avoid. But having these conversations need not be as difficult as we imagine. As Douglas Stone said in his book Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most, “The point is this: difficult conversations are almost never about getting the facts right. They are about conflicting perceptions, interpretations, and values.” So then, the key to having difficult conversations is to try to understand the other person’s perspective. In this course you will learn how to: • Explain the importance of speaking with respect. • Examine your personal behavioural and communication preferences. • Adapt your communication style to suit your audience and speak more assertively. • Employ techniques to help build your assertiveness over time. • Employ the techniques of radical candour to have difficult conversations respectfully. The content of this course includes: WHAT MAKES CONVERSATIONS DIFFICULT? Identifying what makes conversations difficult is the first step towards making them easier. RECOGNISING WHEN TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS Ignoring difficult conversations is usually worse than the discomfort of having them. Avoiding temporary discomfort usually creates longer-term problems. ASSESS YOUR ASSERTIVENESS Complete a self-assessment to determine where you see yourself on a scale from passive to assertive to aggressive. POSITIVE INTENTS THAT CAN HAVE DIFFICULT OUTCOMES We all have different perspectives. Beginning a conversation without understanding the other person’s perspective can often have disastrous consequences. EMBRACING RADICAL CANDOUR You can care personally about people and still challenge them directly. It's about respect. WAYS TO ROLL OUT RADICAL CANDOUR Look at six different techniques for employing radical candour. Contact us today for a quote.