The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations

In part 2 of their conversation, Chris, Lucie, and Julian discuss the complexities of leadership and organizational design, emphasizing the importance of understanding resistance and fostering accountability. Like many things in life, organizational design is an ongoing process that requires regular assessment and adaptation. Julian encourages leaders to engage all levels of their organization in...

This week, Chris and Lucie had the pleasure of chatting with Julian Chender, an expert in organizational design, to explore the difficulties of communication and structure within organizations.  Julian shared his journey in organizational design, emphasizing the need for strategic alignment and the human elements that influence organizational behavior.   Most importantly, he talked...

What does leading with emotional intelligence look like in practice? That’s what we’re exploring in today’s special compilation of The Art & Science of Difficult Conversations . You’ll hear highlights from four episodes: – Dr. Rick Fearnbaugh on growing as an emotionally intelligent leader, – Kelly Meerbott on creating psychological safety, – Chris Wong on helping your team take ownership and...

Episode Description: In this special compilation episode of The Art & Science of Difficult Conversations , we’re taking a break from work conversations and turning toward the relationships that matter most outside of work. You’ll hear three powerful clips on what it means to communicate honestly in love – with yourself, with a long-term partner, and in modern dating. Together, these conversati...

Say the Hard Thing: Courageous Conversations Under Pressure Most difficult conversations don’t fail because we don’t know what to say. They fail because fear shows up, emotions escalate, or we lose clarity under pressure. In this compilation episode of The Art & Science of Difficult Conversations , we bring together three powerful conversations that walk you through the full arc of a hard conv...

How do you give feedback that actually builds a high-performing team? That’s the theme of our compilation episode today. In the first segment, you’ll hear a roleplay where one of our previous guests, Jevon Gondwe , gives performance feedback to Chris. In the next segment, Chris and I break down five practical steps you can use to give feedback that’s clear, honest, and supportive.   Connect w...

In part 2 of their conversation with Laurel Engbretson, Chris and Lucie are joined by Sara Firestein.  This is especially fun because Sara reports directly to Laurel and together, the four of them discuss not only the process of giving feedback to your boss, but how to receive feedback too! They explore the importance of building trust and psychological safety, the role of feedback culture, a...

This week, Chris and Lucie interview Laurel Engbretson, a VP of strategy and operations, discussing the complexities of difficult conversations in leadership. Together, they explore Laurel's journey and her journey to building the courage to give feedback to her own manager. Laurel is a big advocate in the role of trust and the gradual process of building confidence in difficult conversations.&nbs...

In part 2 of their conversation, Chris and Lucie dive even deeper into the intricacies of networking with Jack Pittas, discussing essential strategies for building connections, the importance of tracking contacts, and the effectiveness of elevator pitches. They even persuade Jack to role play how to approach two different people at networking events. Takeaways   Networking is about building r...

This week, Chris and Lucie talk about the art and science of networking with expert Jack Pittas. They explore the importance of networking for professionals, especially for introverts, and provide practical tips on how to approach networking events, build relationships, and follow up effectively. Jack shares his insights on treating networking like a party, the significance of quality over quantit...

What's the difference when a leader has healthy boundaries vs when they don't? Join us for the second part of our interview with Angela Barnes, where we will roleplay and discuss the complexities of setting boundaries in leadership roles, particularly within the nonprofit sector. We explore the challenges of people-pleasing tendencies, the importance of having a strategic plan, and the role of pro...

Episode Overview In this insightful episode, hosts Chris Wong and Lucie Tesarova welcome Angela Barnes, MBA, CFRE, to explore one of the most challenging aspects of workplace communication: setting and maintaining boundaries. Angela brings over a decade of fundraising expertise and shares hard-won lessons about navigating boundaries in nonprofit organizations. Guest Angela D Barnes, MBA, CFRE Prin...

Want a guide to follow while listening? Or notes for future reference? Download the free Power Dynamics Playbook here.  Ever freeze in a meeting when the stakes are high? This episode demystifies power dynamics. We talk about what they are, how they hijack your nervous system, and exactly what to say when you need to push back, manage up, lead from the middle, or invite real feedback as a lea...

Summary:   In part 2 of their conversation, Matt Brown shares his insights on building credibility and trust within teams, overcoming skepticism in leadership roles, and navigating board dynamics. He emphasizes the importance of humility, active listening, and the willingness to learn from others. Matt discusses the responsibilities of leadership, particularly in maintaining the integrity of...

In this episode, Chris Wong and Lucie Tesarova interview Matt Brown, an Executive Director of a Watershed nonprofit, to discuss the intricacies of difficult conversations in leadership. They explore Matt's journey in the nonprofit sector, the challenges of navigating resistance from employees and board members, and the importance of understanding motivations behind resistance. Matt shares personal...

What does it take to build an international community? In part 2 of the conversation with Tasha Van Vlack, Chris and Lucie explore the intricacies of building and maintaining community within organizations, especially as they grow. Tasha shares her insights on navigating cultural differences in community engagement, emphasizing the importance of connection and flexibility. They also discuss the tr...

How do you get the confidence to build something in public  In part 1, Chris Wong and Lucie Tesarova interview Tasha Van Vlack, the founder of the Nonprofit Hive, discussing the challenges and triumphs of building an international community. Tasha shares her journey of personal growth, the importance of vulnerability in leadership, and the necessity of transparency in fostering a supportive e...

Join us for the second part of our conversation with Jevon Gondwe, who is a  Leadership Transformation Architect and the founder of Influential Skills Company.  If you haven't heard the first part of our conversation on how to create high performing teams, or as Jevon says "Culture of Champions", make sure to listen it here .  Key Takeaways: Building a team requires clear communicat...

How do you build High-Performing Teams? What kind of skills and factors are essential for effective leadership? Join us for a conversation with Jevon Gondwe to hear his personal anecdotes and insights that highlight the transformative power of leadership in both personal and professional contexts. Takeaways: Effective communication enhances overall quality of life. Leadership has a ripple effect o...

How can you turn a crisis into an opportunity and rebuild trust? Join us for another episode of the Art & Science of Difficult Conversations, where we had a conversation with Scott Harvey, who has 20 years of experience in law enforcement as a Hostage Negotiator. This is part 2 of the episode, where we role-play a difficult conversation that many leaders face - talking with an employee who "su...

How can you turn a crisis into an opportunity and rebuild trust?  Join us for another episode of the Art & Science of Difficult Conversations, where we had a conversation with Scott Harvey, who has 20 years of experience in law enforcement as a Hostage Negotiator.    Key takeaways:  Crisis can be an opportunity to rebuild trust. Prevention is key in communication to av...

Is it possible to talk about race and social justice in a productive way? Listen to our interview with Hilary Giovale to find out the answer to that question and more! We discuss the challenges with having these conversations, how vulnerability plays a role in sharing our personal stories, and how white individuals can confront their guilt and engage in difficult conversations about their heritage...

Is it possible to talk about race and social justice in a productive way? Listen to our interview with Hilary Giovale to find out the answer to that question and more! We discuss the challenges with having these conversations, how vulnerability plays a role in sharing our personal stories, and how white individuals can confront their guilt and engage in difficult conversations about their heritage...

Welcome to Season 3! Chris and Lucie are back with a whole new season, but we’re starting things off simple since Lucie’s tied up! In this episode, Chris delves into the importance of nonverbal communication and simplifies it, since it’s so misunderstood.  He talks about:   Why is it so important?   The 3 biggest misconceptions/myths about body language/nonverbal communication &nbsp...

NOTES:   One more week of rest!  In this week's compilation, we re-visit episodes on how to talk about politics, money issues, and marriage issues.   Season 3 starts next week!   Contact us: Email –   tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris –   www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc Lucie –   www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova