A Difficult conversation is any discussion where stakes are high, opinions differ, and emotions run strong. These often involve sensitive topics like performance issues, personal conflicts, boundary-setting, or delivering bad news. Here are some key points to handle them well: 1. Prepare Yourself First Be clear about your purpose: What do you want out of this conversation? Anticipate the other person’s perspective and emotions. Regulate your own emotions—go in calm, not defensive. 2. Start with Respect Use a neutral and non-accusatory tone. Begin with something like: “I’d like us to talk about something important, because I value our relationship/work together.” 3. Focus on the Issue, Not the Person Describe facts, not judgments. Example: “The report was delayed” instead of “You’re careless.” 4. Listen Actively Let them share their side without interruption. Show empathy even if you disagree: “I hear that you felt…” 5. Seek Common Ground Ask open-ended questions: “How do you see this?” Aim for problem-solving together instead of blaming. 6. Stay Solution-Oriented End with actionable next steps. # Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone / Bruce Patton / Sheila Heen

The Hidden Cost of Unclear Boundaries Every conversation competes for attention in an oversaturated landscape. Your message either cuts through or gets buried. The difference between getting buried or cutting through depends less on what you say, but on what you deliberately choose not to say. So you've mastered the powerful formula of verb + person + message + outcome that defines your aim, but without boundaries, even the sharpest intent statement loses its sharp edge. The oh so carefully crafted message drifts as your audience gets distracted, and your objectives dissolve into noise. How can you become the signal in a sea of noise? By placing the strategic guardrail of the non-intent statement to keep you from merging into the noise lane. Consider the following intent and not-intent pairings: Intent: "Decide the team's top priority so we leave this meeting aligned." Not-Intent: "I'm not here to debate every possible option." Intent: "Understand what's blocking progress so we can solve it together." Not-Intent: "I'm not here to push my own solution." Each pairing eliminates distraction and focuses attention on what matters. The result can be conversations that drive outcomes instead of endless cycles. Here's the action standard I use, and you might consider doing so as well. Or not. Before entering your next meaningful conversation, write one Not-Intent Statement: "I am not trying to ____________." If you can't complete that sentence, you're unprepared to speak. If you can write it clearly, then you are ready to drive the conversation forward toward focused messaging. Clarity isn't just what you say. It's knowing what you're not saying.

5 silly messages messing with your head: 1. "I need to prove myself first before I can contribute" Nope. You already proved yourself - that's why you're here. 2. "Everyone else knows more than me" They know the company politics...you know how to solve problems. 3. "I should observe before jumping in" Observation is playing smart but staying invisible isn't doing you any favours. 4. "My previous experience isn't relevant here" Your fresh perspective is exactly what they hired you for. 5. "I don't want to step on toes" You know when you're adding value and when you're not. You've been here before. Trust yourself. You know how to get things done at work. You've dealt with tricky people and tight deadlines. You've made it work. But step into a new role or industry and suddenly you're questioning everything you know. What works instead: Stop editing yourself before you speak. When you say what you mean, people listen. - Share your perspective. - Ask strategic questions. - Lead conversations. You earned your place. Use it. You're not the new person. You're the experienced hire. Which of these messages have you been giving too much attention?

Bad News Gets Worse If You Wait If you're holding off on telling your boss, stakeholders, or client something disappointing, here’s the truth: waiting won't make it better. In fact, it usually makes it worse. When you delay sharing bad news, people begin to question your judgment. Why did it take so long to speak up? Why did they have to find out on their own? That delay can erode trust, damage relationships, and make them think twice about working with you again—or referring you to others. I’ve found that people often delay bad news out of fear—fear of disappointing someone, or triggering a negative reaction. But ironically, the thing they fear is exactly what happens when they delay. We’ve all been there—on the receiving end of late or withheld information. And it never feels good. Of course no one likes delivering bad news. But I promise you: you’ll earn more respect if you own up to it quickly and propose a solution. Recently, someone I was doing business with failed to tell me they wouldn’t be able to deliver a product by our agreed-upon deadline. I only found out the day before—because I called them. No product, no heads-up, no accountability. I won’t be working with them again. Bad news doesn’t get better with age. But proactive communication—even when it’s hard—builds trust and preserves relationships. It’s about setting expectations, keeping them, and when necessary, resetting them—with transparency and care. — From The Communications That Lead series #CommunicationsThatLead #Transparency #ProactiveCommunication

16 phrases every leader needs to know. (I wish I knew these 16 years ago.) They would've saved me from: Credits to Justin Wright. Follow them for valuable insights. Original post below: ====== 16 phrases every leader needs to know. (I wish I knew these 16 years ago.) They would've saved me from: ➟ Burned bridges ➟ Countless conflicts ➟ Damaged relationships Since then, I've seen: ➟ Impossible conflicts resolved ➟ Hostile rooms turn peaceful ➟ Broken trust rebuilt All because someone knew what to say. And when to say it. That's emotional intelligence in action. It's not about having perfect answers. It's about having the right approach. When someone's frustrated, saying "I want to understand your perspective" opens more doors than getting defensive. When tension rises, a simple "Let's pause and collect our thoughts" can prevent words you'd later regret. The magic happens when you: ✅ Validate feelings before solving problems ✅ Show curiosity instead of judgment ✅ Create safety for honest dialogue People won't remember most of what you say. But they'll never forget how your words made them feel: Seen Heard Respected Or... Defensive Dismissed Small The choice is yours. Choose words that build bridges, not walls. Because in the end, your EQ isn't measured by your vocabulary. It's measured by the trust you build, the conflicts you resolve, and the people you help grow. One conversation at a time. ====== 🎤 Want to be interviewed and get your message in front of thousands of people? We’re kicking off a new interview series with people who’ve got deep experience and real stories to share 🙌 Click here now 👉 bit.ly/mental-health-first

What if I told you that the BEST way to build trust and rapport isn’t talking, it’s asking questions? In PR, whether for your personal brand or your business, the fastest way to connect isn’t to flood people with information about you. It’s to show real curiosity about them. When you ask thoughtful, open-ended questions, you’re signalling that their perspective matters, and you’re gathering the insight you need to tailor your message in a way that resonates. The best communicators; leaders, founders, and public figures, don’t dominate the conversation. They guide it. They listen more than they speak. And when they do speak, every word lands because it’s shaped by what they’ve just learned. Whether you’re sitting across from a journalist, a new client, or a potential partner, the right questions can turn a polite exchange into a meaningful connection. People won’t just remember what you said. They’ll remember how you made them feel. And that’s where trust is built.

Rule #15: Don’t Talk Just to Talk, Make Your Words Count The loudest voice in the room isn’t the smartest, it’s usually the most insecure. If you find yourself constantly chiming in just to prove you’re present, you’re not building influence. You’re building noise. And noise is forgettable. Corporate meetings are already bloated enough. No one needs your play-by-play commentary or recycled thought disguised as “alignment.” You’re not adding value, you’re padding your airtime. And when everything you say is filler, people stop listening even when you finally have something worth saying. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most professionals don’t need to hear your voice as often as you think. What they need is clarity, insight, and decisiveness. Not a TED Talk every time your name’s on the calendar invite. Speak only when what you say changes the trajectory of the conversation or clarifies it. If you’re repeating what someone else already said with “just to piggyback,” congratulations, you’re a corporate parrot. No one remembers parrots. They remember the hawks the ones who speak with precision, not volume. Silence isn’t weakness. It’s strategic. It makes your words land harder when you finally use them. Ramble too often, and you become background noise. Speak with impact, and people lean in when you do. Talk less. Mean more.

Difficult conversations can be challenging. Here's how to navigate them better: 1️⃣ Empathic Listening: ↳ Pay close attention, making eye contact, and refraining from interrupting. . 2️⃣ Focus on the "We," not the "Me": ↳ Shift the conversation from blame to collaboration. 3️⃣ The Power of Pause: ↳ Allow space for thoughtful responses by resisting the urge to fill silences immediately. 4️⃣ Frame the Conversation Constructively: ↳ Keep the focus on the future rather than dwelling on the past. 5️⃣ Navigate Emotions Effectively: ↳ Acknowledge and validate the emotions of others while maintaining your composure. 📌 PS...Remember, the most fruitful conversations often arise from moments of discomfort. Embrace these opportunities for growth, and you'll find yourself not just navigating difficult discussions, but transforming them into catalysts for positive change. *** 👉 Want a high-res PDF of this cheat sheet? Try The Extra Mile Newsletter: https://lnkd. in/gaewRGyj You'll get this cheat sheet + more for free. Р.С: Harry Karydes, FolIοw Harry Karydes for more content like this Difficult conversations can be challenging. Here's how to navigate them better: 👇

Silent Communication: When Saying Nothing Says Everything NO COMMENT. An approach often used by companies, as they believe it helps them avoid controversies. However, to journalists and stakeholders, it may convey uncertainty, a lack of engagement and transparency, even when none of that is true. Is it the wrong approach? Not necessarily. Silence isn’t always a mistake. In the right hands, and at the right time, it’s a strategic tool. Strategic silence has its power. It can signal thoughtfulness, respect, or discipline. But for it to work, it must be intentional, timed, and paired with signals that reassure. It can create space for reflection, show respect for a sensitive moment, or signal that you’re listening more than talking. The challenge is making sure your audience understands it that way. Non-strategic silence, on the other hand, creates room for rumours and erodes trust. In moments of uncertainty, people will always fill the void, and by the time you step in to clarify, you’re not in control of the narrative; you’re fighting to reclaim it. Silence is not the absence of communication; it is communication, but knowing when and how to use it can shape your message or affect your reputation. It takes a strategic communicator to strike a balance between its power and risks. #Leadership #StrategicCommunications #CrisisCommunication #ReputationManagement

Want to know the fastest way to make your voice forgettable? Try sounding “professional. For years, I thought “professional” meant polished. Flawless sentences. Industry jargon. Neutral tone. And yes, people nodded politely. But they never really remembered me. Here’s the hidden cost: When you chase “professional,” you strip away what makes your voice human. You stop sounding like you. The truth? Professional doesn’t always mean powerful. Polished doesn’t always mean persuasive. And scripted doesn’t always build trust. What people respect isn’t a rehearsed voice. It’s a real one. So the next time you’re in a meeting or presentation, ask yourself: Am I trying to sound professional… or am I trying to sound like myself—clear, confident, and authentic? Because the latter is what people actually remember. #AuthenticVoice #LeadershipPresence #Communication