The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations

SHOW NOTES: More rest month!  In this week’s compilation episode, feedback is on the menu – specifically, how do you give feedback that sticks?  Chris and Lucie discuss five key elements that contribute to successful feedback and demonstrate how it could play out when an underperforming employee asks for a promotion they don’t qualify for. Takeaways   Effective feedback requires a s...

Trigger Warning: Suicide, Sexual Abuse If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help: USA : 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – call or text 988 Canada : Call 1-1-833-456-4566 toll-free, anytime – or text 45645 between 4 pm and midnight EST. International Support info https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/ In this compilation episode, we are talking ab...

“ The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence itself, but to act with yesterday's logic.” – Peter Drucker Welcome to this special compilation episode of The Art & Science of Difficult Conversations, where we explore the emotional, strategic, and human side of leading through change. This episode brings together powerful insights from five episodes across Season 2 to suppor...

Can you believe we are at the end of Season 2 of the Art & Science of the Difficult Conversations Podcast? What a journey it has been! We have had many amazing guests and episodes on different difficult topics to talk about, both in our personal and professional lives.  Today we focused on sharing the highlights from 6 different episodes, that had something in common - they all touched on...

Summary:   In this episode, Chris and Lucie do their annual round up and reflect on season 2 of their podcast.  They discuss listener engagement, popular episodes, and personal insights gained from their conversations. Chris and Lucie also talk about how the guests have consistently highlighted the importance of difficult conversations in leadership and the impact of emotional intelligen...

What are the hard conversations business owners are avoiding?  This week, Chris and Lucie interview Nicky Billou, a bestselling author and entrepreneur, to talk about the hard conversations most business owners aren’t having – and what happens when they don’t.   Nicky shares his passion for entrepreneurship and shares a story of a business partnership that didn’t work out and how it...

In this week’s episode, Chris flies solo without Lucie and interviews Heather Garbutt to discuss the intricacies of difficult conversations in relationships. They explore the importance of trust, commitment, and self-awareness, as well as the skills necessary for effective communication. The conversation delves into recognizing red flags, understanding triggers, and the significance of intentional...

In this episode, Chris and Lucie talk with Jannine MacKinnon, a certified sex, love, and relationship coach, to explore the complexities of difficult conversations surrounding sex. They talk about the societal taboos that hinder open communication about sex and the challenges faced in long-term relationships. Jannine’s approach emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for dialogue, unders...

How much "knowledge" and information do you daily consume, but don't apply? Join us for a reflection & celebration episode, where Chris and Lucie reflect on their clients' powerful wins and real-world transformations made possible by having one honest, courageous conversation. From ethical layoffs to overcoming perfectionism and burnout, this episode offers insight into how small shifts i...

What does it really take to transition from military life back into the civilian world—and how do you talk about the trauma that comes with it? And equally important – how do you talk with a veteran about their experiences?  This week, Chris and Lucie sit down with Ryan Casavant, a Marine Corps veteran who now works with Home Base, a program dedicated to helping veterans heal from PTSD and tr...

Our podcast conversations are not scripted; we go with the flow. And in this episode, even though we started about managing a large group of people, and how to keep people accountable, we transitioned into another big topic in difficult conversations that many people struggle with or have a bad feeling about - sales. Whether you're leading a team, building your own business, or just trying to get...

- In this episode, Chris Wong and Lucie Tesarova interview Whitney Kobrin, a dating and relationship expert, to explore the evolution of dating, the impact of COVID on relationships, and the importance of communication and boundaries in modern dating. Whitney shares her personal journey from loss to becoming a coach, emphasizing the need for hard conversations and self-awareness in relationships....

How do you see HR? Is it your friend in the business or your enemy? Join us for a conversation with Amy Pagett on navigating difficult conversations in HR. We explore the role of HR in the organization, the concept of authenticity in the workplace, generational communication challenges, and the importance of thoughtful hiring practices. Amy shares her insights on navigating difficult conversations...

Summary : Trigger Warning: Suicide  How do you actually talk to someone who’s feeling suicidal?  This week, Lucie and Chris talk to Kacy Maitland, Chief Clinical Officer at Samaritan’s, a suicide prevention nonprofit to explore the do’s and don’ts of this important conversations.  Kacy discusses the stigma surrounding suicide, the necessity of early conversations, and innovative way...

Summary Trigger Warning: Suicide, Sexual Abuse If you want someone to talk to, you can always call or text 988   This week, Lucie and Chris get personal and dive into the complexity of discussing suicide, personal experiences with loss, and the importance of open dialogue around mental health. They interview Paula Correia, who shares her story of grief and healing, emphasizing the need for su...

Are you afraid to make the wrong decision or to say the wrong thing and you end up not changing and procrastinating? Are doubts holding you back from living the life you want to live? What is one action that you have procrastinating on because of fear or doubts, that you know taking the action would make your life better? Join us for the conversation with Tina Englisch, get inspired, empowered and...

Do you get frustrated when your team members don't seem to take ownership of their work and the results that they should be producing? You are not alone. Many leaders are in this position, asking themselves: "How do I keep my team members accountable? How do I motivate them to take ownership of their part of the work?" Chris Wong specializes in helping leaders deal with these types of situations....

Join us today for a conversation with Dr. Tenia Davis about leadership, the misconceptions around servant leadership, and how to lead in a way that delivers results and supports the well-being of the employees. About Dr. Tenia Davis: Tenia Davis is a Human Resources and Recruitment expert with extensive experience serving in executive positions at large, high-caliber companies such as HBR Consulti...

On building trust, relationships, and asking for money - with Rick Peck How do you build trust and relationships with people and how do you have the difficult conversations about money? Join us for another episode of the Art and Science of Difficult Conversations Podcast, were we have as a special guest Rick Peck, also known as "The Philanthropy Guy - an expert on providing consulting and edu...

Episode Title: Navigating Respect & Communication Across Generations 🎙️ Hosts: Chris Wong – Owner of Leadership Potential , helping nonprofit and mission-driven leaders navigate difficult transitions. Lucie Tesarova – Founder of MindFittery , a mental fitness gym for leaders, their teams, and families. Episode Summary: In this episode, we dive into one of the most complex and often misundersto...

Can a military veteran learn how to be a more emotionally intelligent leader? Rick Fearnbaugh is proof that it’s possible. Coming from a world of Marine Corps leadership, he joins Lucie and Chris this week to share about his journey into the world of civilian leadership and how he needed to soften his approach.  And this isn’t just something military veterans encounter – anybody coming from a...

Summary:   Is psychological safety still a thing? YES, absolutely! But talking about it doesn’t make it any easier to get right.  Culture and safety are hard to cultivate, requiring ongoing support.  In this week’s episode, Lucie and Chris interview Kelly Meerbott, a renowned expert on psychological safety on what companies and leaders are getting wrong about it and how they ca...

Is it possible to conduct layoffs in a way that’s respectful and compassionate?  According to Summer, there definitely is.  In this week’s episode, Lucie and   Chris   interview Summer Miller, an HR consultant who’s focused on helping business navigate people-centered change. Through both her own personal experience and her work, she helps us understand: -   &nbs...

Why are boundaries so hard to set?  Even better question – why are boundaries so hard to keep? On this week’s episode, Lucie and Chris welcome Becky Upchurch, a mindset coach to talk through the ins and outs of setting and keeping healthy boundaries.  Whether its with friends, family, or coworkers, there’s a lot we get wrong about caring about our own emotional and physical limits. &nbsp...

Ever wanted your partner to change? Maybe they have an unhealthy habit that makes you worried about their wellbeing? If so, join us for this episode of the Art & Science of Difficult Conversations Podcast. Today we explore how to address this sensitive situation with your partner. Let us know what you think! What resonates with you? What doesn't? Let us know! Contact Chris and Lucie Check out...